WORD OF THE WEEK

WHEN you think about it, this whole idea we have of Christmas gifts is a bit confusing.

What is a gift? Well “obvs” (as the young ones say), it is something that is freely given. But we often hear that it is also something deserved. In other words, in some way, earned.

Santa asks the children: “Have you been good?” As if, the better we have been, the better the present will be. And if you haven’t been good, no present for you!

We can fall into the trap of thinking that God is like a heavenly Santa who only rewards us if we have been good.

We live our lives trying to be good to gain favour and blessing from God.

But the Bible goes right against this idea.

It says that God gives his gifts freely without taking into account how good we are – the gifts of life, of breath, of Jesus, and of eternal life.

There is nothing to pay and nothing to earn. But the gifts must be accepted to be enjoyed.

Christmas is all about gifts and, fundamentally, about the greatest gift – the son of God, who was given to be our saviour, and who gives us eternal life.

None of us deserve it, but the gift was freely given and is still available today to those who will receive it.

That includes you and me, whoever we are.

Nothing to pay, nothing to earn. That is what Christians call grace – the free, undeserved gift of God!