December 25

Read: Philippians 2:5-8

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5).

Christmas Is Self-Giving

Heart holiness is designed to make us more like Jesus, whom God gave to us at Christmas — more like Him in sinless life and more like Him in selfless service. At Christmas it seems natural to forget ourselves and to remember others. In a sense, holiness is simply God’s plan to extend Christmas through the whole year. Expecting to do some love service for God should be a part of our consecration and a normal condition of our continued sanctification. Thomas Cook has expressed it beautifully thus: “If Christ be in full possession of our hearts, it will not be long until we will be doing in our poor way some of the beautiful things He would do if He were here himself in bodily form.”

The Christ of Christmas was most concerned with this kind of self-giving when He talked to the disciples about what they should expect after Pentecost: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Paul exhorts us: “Make love your aim, and then set your heart on spiritual gifts” (I Corinthians 14:1, Moffatt). Christmas reminds us again that, after our hearts have been cleansed from sin and filled with perfect love, we are to give ourselves to the service of Christ — to give ourselves as He gave himself for the service of God and the needs of men.

Oh, holy Child, as wise men came and found Thee And laid low at Thy feet their gifts of gold, So we would bring our gifts of love and service And pledge our faith as wise men did of old.*

— Dale Asher Jacobus

*Copyright 1943 by Lillenas Publishing Co. International copyright.