As a taxpayer, you typically work from January through April every year just to pay your taxes. For some, the first four months of every year is about the same time period they are still paying for Christmas from the previous year. Why do let Christmas, and gift giving, sneak up on us like that? After all, it should be no surprise that Christmas is on the same day of the same month every year!

Perhaps this is the year that you could return the gifts that you purchased on your credit card with money that you didn’t have. Perhaps this is the year that we can let the presence of God be the reason for the season and not the presents we feel like we need to give to others. Am I getting too personal?

Think about this: “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:25/NIV) It’s not a bad thing to give gifts. But, if the worship of created things takes precedence over the worship of the Creator, then our priorities should be reevaluated.

At Christmas time, presents are the created things we sometimes value. This season, let’s worship Emmanuel—God with us—whom the Creator graciously sent to us to show us the way to Him! Jesus was the greatest gift that could ever have been given, or could ever be received. May God’s presence radiate through you this Christmas season as a gift to those around you!

Grace & Peace, Pastor Brian