THE GIFT OF PRESENCE

I heard a reflection that resonated with my heart and spirit at a Lessons and Carols event, which I think is perfect to share during this holiday season. Lessons and Carols bring the true meaning of Christmas to life, telling the story of Jesus’ birth, including Mary and Joseph’s plight, through Scripture and music.

Isn’t Christmas a wonderful time of year when we take time to reflect on the sacredness of Jesus’ birth? Christmas is also a time when we show our love to others, especially with the tradition of giving gifts. Have you stopped to think about what our gifts to one another symbolize?

 Gifts are tangible symbols that say…

 …you are important to me.

…I want to be in relationship with you. 

…I value you.

…I want you to be part of my life. 

 

Photo courtesy of asenat29 under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0)

 

What is the ultimate best gift we have ever received? Hint: It might be intangible for now, but someday it will be tangible!  😉

JESUS!

 

Who gave us the gift of Jesus?

GOD!

 

By giving us the ultimate gift of Jesus, God is saying to us…

…you are important to me!

…I want to be in relationship with you!

…I value you!

…I want you to be part of my life!

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. –John 3:16 (NIV)

God desires a personal relationship with us that begins when we are on this earth and will continue for eternity if we accept His gift of Jesus. How great is God’s love for us!

 

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. –Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

God, the Creator of everything, made you and me in His image. We are so important to God, and He values each one of us. Take a few minutes to reflect on the profound impact of that truth.

 

Photo courtesy of Martin LaBar under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 2.0)

 

Have you accepted and opened your heart to Jesus, God’s ultimate gift to you?

Isn’t it interesting to realize that when you receive God’s gift of Jesus, your life is graced with Jesus’ presence?

What can you give back to God for His gift of Jesus? How about in gratitude, sharing the presence of Jesus with others, and ultimately back to God?

 

You can BE Jesus to others by sharing…

…a loving heart.

…compassion for all of creation.

…forgiveness to those who have hurt you.

…grace in trying to understand another’s view.

…the joy of the Lord.

 

“Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” –Matthew 18:33 (NIV)

God shows us mercy and compassion in our lives, most importantly by sending Jesus to save us from our sin. We need to share that same mercy and compassion with those we see who need a helping hand, someone to care about them, or are trying to find their way in this world.

 

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. –Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

We can learn from Christ, who was obedient to the point of death, even forgiving those who killed Him. Can you, to be more like Christ, step out and forgive the one who has hurt you deeply?

 

 

 

When you share gifts with others, aren’t you sharing the presence of Jesus?

It is also your thank you to God, letting Him know…

…you are important to me.

…I want to be in relationship with you.

…I value you.

…I want you to be part of my life.

 

God’s gift of Jesus that was first given 2000 years ago is the gift that keeps on giving!

 

Throughout our lives, and I will quote the speaker:

“The abiding presence of that gift remains with us still–the ongoing present is the ongoing presence of Jesus. The real meaning of Christmas is presence–the abiding presence of the One whose birth we celebrate this Christmas.

“When you see the baby Jesus in the manger this Christmas, see the visible, tangible sign of God’s ardent desire to be in relationship with you…

         ….to affirm your value,

        your importance in His eyes,

       and God’s wish to share in your life,

      that you might share in His.

“And then it is up to you…to go, and do likewise!”

 

Jesus, God’s gift and ardent desire to be in relationship with you!

 

“In the end, it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything.”  –Thomas Merton

 

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  –1 Peter 2:9  (NLT)