Giving Gifts to Jesus

Last week during our Bible devotions from My ABC Bible Verses, we were discussing John 3:16. The devotion on this particular day was about Christmas and how God gave His only son, for us. Jesus was a gift to us! The devotion tells the story about a brother and sister who were singing in their church choir for Christmas. Since it was Christmas and Jesus' birthday, they wanted to give him something, as a gift. They decided that singing in the choir was going to be their gift to Jesus. However, they also learned that by helping out a fellow member of the church was also giving a gift to Jesus!

This then prompted Emma with the question, "Mama, what can I give Jesus for His birthday?" I began to explain how by her sharing with her brother and other children at church and by not lying and obeying her mother and father, that those were all gifts she was giving to Jesus. Then, a light bulb went off in my head!

I began to explain that by praying for our World Vision Sponsor Child and by filling up our shoebox, that we were actually giving gifts to Jesus by putting a smile on the faces of these children. We are "giving unto the least of these" and in return, we are "giving to Him" {Matthew 25:40}

This quickly put a huge smile on her face!
"So you mean, mama, that by us putting that doll, and bracelet, and truck, and puzzle, and toothbrush and toothpaste, and hairbrush, and crayons, and socks into those boxes, we are giving gifts to Jesus for His birthday?"
"Yes, that is right!"
"And by me saying a prayer for 'B' everyday, that is giving a gift to Jesus?"
"Yep! You got it!"
"Wow! Jesus doesn't ask for much!"

It took me, oh, 29 years to fully understand what God asks of us and it took my 4 year old daughter all of 5 minutes to grasp that same understanding! Out of the mouth of babes!

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And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. ~ Matthew 18:5