In an adaptation of a familiar Christmas carol: “Tis the season to spend money, fa-la-la-la la . . .” “When the bills come it’s not funny; fa-la-la-la . . .”

In January, so many people must face the cost of Christmas when the bills or credit card statements appear in the mail.  
There is perhaps some consolation in how much was spent with the explanation that all the gifts were an expression of the person’s love for someone else (the recipients).  
This is never more true than when it comes to God. 

The familiar Bible verse, John 3:16, says that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever would believe in Him would not perish apart from God, but have everlasting life. (See also verse 17) 

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, put it this way: that even though Jesus was (equal to) God, He willingly left the glory He had in heaven to take on the form of a human being so that He could become a sacrifice for the sins (lives) of every human being. 

The fact that Jesus was born to “seek and to save that which was lost” and to “give His life as a ransom for many” (Luke 17:10; Matthew 28:20), was God’s way of expressing His love for all humanity.  He was willing to pay this cost as a way of reconciling the world to Himself in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19). 

As you celebrate Christmas (or some other holiday of gift giving) this year, please take time to consider the cost God paid for the “gift that keeps on giving” in order to tell you how much He loves you. Merry Christmas!