Christmas is now over, and as we head into the New Year, many are starting to put away the decorations, take down the lights, and recycle the Christmas tree-or just put it back in the box, if you have gone the route of the artificial Tannenbaum.  It is also a time to figure out what to do with all of the Christmas presents that have been received.  Some gifts are clear winners that will be cherished for years while others have a different fate.  Metaphorically, sometimes the way we respond to Christmas gifts today is very similar to how we respond to the greatest Christmas gift of all time-Jesus Christ:

 

#1 - The One Hit Wonder:  It is fun for a while, but then the appeal wears off and the gift is put away never to be enjoyed again.  Many enjoy the things of the Lord for a time but let their love fade away.  Let's not put Jesus aside in our lives as we head into the New Year.  In Revelation 2:5 Jesus encouraged the church of Ephesus to return to their first love.

 

#2 - The Return:  Not interested, but maybe I can get something better instead.  About 20 percent will return or exchange one Christmas gift this year.  It's not that the present is bad, but there might be something out there that will satisfy us more.  This is a dangerous move to make when it comes to our Lord and Savior, but how many times do we exchange Him for another want or desire? Proverbs 26:11 equates a fool returning to his folly to that of digestive dilemma of a dog.

 

#3 - The Fake Gratitude:  You pretend you like it, but you are just faking it.  We have all received at one time a most unique article of clothing from a family member-probably an aunt or a grandma.  You can't return it because it was probably handmade.  All you can do is put it on and say, "Thank You!"  The gift hides itself until that family member visits again and the masquerade continues.  You might be able to fool grandma, but you can't fool the Lord.  We should start off the year by getting real with the Lord.  We might be able to fool our brothers and sisters in Christ but not Christ Himself.  In Matthew 15:8-9, Jesus spoke of the Pharisees who put on a big show of worship but their hearts were far from him.

 

#4 - The Re-gift:  This isn't for me, but maybe it is for someone else.  I am sure everyone has either been guilty of re-gifting or possibly a victim of re-gifting at one time.  In fact, 15 percent said they plan to pass on a gift.  In our walk with the Lord, re-gifting is equivalent to saying God's blessings aren't for me, but they are for others.  Financial breakthrough isn't for me, maybe someone else.  I could never be in ministry, maybe someone else.  I can't be used by God, maybe someone else.  There is no need to re-gift in the Kingdom of God, because in a never ending Kingdom, the gifts are never ending.  In 1 Timothy 4:12-14, Paul encouraged Timothy to not despise his youth or neglect his gift because God chose him.

 

Although these four reactions are quite common when it comes to Christmas presents, they can't be our reaction to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He is not a one hit wonder, cannot be returned, faked, or re-gifted.  God gave us the greatest gift of all time, and we should respond by giving ourselves in exchange.