‘Tis the season of giving and…returning. As a member of the retail industry, I’ve learned that the day after Christmas is just as busy at stores as the rest of the holidays. Why? Because that is the day people take back gifts they had just received for Christmas. Some of the reasons include:

"It’s too small"

"It’s the wrong color"

"I already have one"

"It wasn’t on my list"

You get the idea. How horrible it must be for the gift giver to find out that you’d exchanged the item they spent a lot of time, and probably money, to buy for you. It’s a lack of communication between families and friends who usually use the phrase; "Oh I don’t care what you buy me, just as long as it’s from you." Returning gifts makes everyone a personal Scrooge. In Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol", Ebenezer Scrooge was a penny-pinching miser who wanted nothing to do with the holiday season. He wanted nothing to do with giving and everything to do with getting. Apparently he never read the latter part of Acts 20:35 in which Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

And that makes me think of another gift that was given some two thousand years ago in the form of a child. The birth of Jesus Christ as told in Luke 2: 1-20. I understand that most refer to this as the first Christmas but no where in the bible does it say that this event took place in December. But when the angel of the Lord appeared to the group of shepherds out in the fields and it was said to them in verses 11 and 12: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

Now imagine instead of being afraid as in verse 9 that one of the shepherds stood up and boldly said, "We already have one!" Or "A baby? That’s not on my list." It sounds pretty funny to us but imagine how God would feel if his gift was rejected. In fact, the gift of the child was turned down by one individual, Herod, whom I dub the original Scrooge. In Matthew 2:1-16, Herod learns of the birth of a child who was to be made king and he ordered for the Wise Men to seek out this child and report back to him what they had seen. Herod did not like the thought of competition; even in the form of a mere baby. In verse 16 we learn what Herod finally did, "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and set forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years and under, according to the time which he diligently inquired of the wise men." Fortunately for Jesus and his parents they were pre-warned and fled to Egypt (verse 13).

But it does not stop there. In addition to Herod rejecting the gift of Christ, so did a few others. The Jewish elders, chief priests and scribes rejected him as well as shown in Matthew 16:21: "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." And again in Matthew 21:42 "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" He was rejected by the generation as stated in Luke 17:25 "But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation." And finally, Peter stated in Acts 4:10-12 that all of Israel rejected him too! "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." London, England was very fortunate to have only one Scrooge. Jesus Christ has thousands.

Today many people reject Jesus (God’s gift of salvation through Him) by rejecting His word, the holy bible:

1. Those who reject the words of Jesus are in reality rejecting Jesus himself—"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48)
2. Those who reject the apostles’ teachings are rejecting Jesus—"He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me." (Luke 10:16)
3. Those who do not follow the word of the gospel—"To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."

This holiday season when you receive a gift that’s not quite what you expected, remember the gift of Christ and the salvation God gave the whole world. In John 3:16-17 Jesus said, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

Most people reject God’s gift because they refused to believe and obey His word of truth—"But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38. That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39. Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them."

Do you wish to accept God’s gift of salvation through Jesus? The gift is free and though it can be returned (rejected) I highly suggest against it. Follow this plan of salvation by reading these scripture passages:

1. Hear and Believe the gospel (Romans 10:17; John 8:24)
2. Confess your faith in Christ (Matthew 10:22; Romans 10:9-10)
3. Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3; 5; Acts 17:30)
4. Be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38)
5. Live your life faithfully (Romans 12:1-2)

Yes, the gift is free but you have to do a little work to get there which is why I simply put the scripture references. If you’re not willing to look them up on your own, then you’ve probably already rejected Jesus.

"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." (2 Peter 2:20-22)

God gave His son to the world as a gift that wasn’t on anyone’s list. Or maybe, it was on everyone’s list and no one realized it. It’s a gift I’m thankful for and it is one I do not plan on returning.