The Perfect Gift for Everyone

Permeating the hearts and homes of families across the world this month is the Christmas story. Familiar and comforting, it is the December soundtrack for families of faith and even many who are outside the faith. But pausing to look deeper we uncover intricate details where the character of God and the relevance of the gospel message are revealed.

The incarnation of God is the ultimate example that He came to earth for all of humanity, regardless of status or efforts.

The birth of Christ demonstrates that He has no favorites but receives those who humbly accept His gift of salvation. Salvation is for those from every nation, from every socioeconomic status, and from every background. He comes to the unnoticed, the unknown, the honored, and the influential – and the Christmas story embodies this truth.

The truth that God comes to all was a society-upending announcement as Jesus stepped into the pages of human history. The opening moments of the story in which God chose a young couple in an obscure village are shocking. Mary and Joseph were humble, largely invisible teenagers but were chosen by God as guardians of the greatest miracle in history. From the first verses of the Christmas story, we see God drawing near to those that the world overlooks.

God could have chosen a triumphant, royal entry for His son, the Savior of the world. He could have come through Jerusalem’s regal palace courts or the intellectual halls of scholarly institutes, but the Son of God was born to two teenage parents in a lowly stable.

Even after Jesus’ birth, the announcement of His arrival was delivered to a group of individuals who lived on the margins of society, working in a disregarded trade. The first to hear of Jesus’ arrival on earth were not those who were considered the most powerful or the most spiritual; it involved those who had never been invited to the table of cultural importance. And yet, God invited the shepherds to be part of the most important moment in history. God chose them; angels appeared to them; the Messiah was revealed to them.

This was an unmistakable moment of significance showing that God’s gift of salvation and grace is intended for all.

God also brought the news of His most precious gift to those on the other end of the social spectrum. Prestigious men from the East who were wise and wealthy were drawn into the pages of history by following a supernatural heavenly phenomenon. Seeing a providential star, the wise men pursued the promise of a Savior by traveling long distances equipped with gifts that were marked by significant social standing. They obediently left their homes to kneel before the Christ child, demonstrating that the same God who reaches down to the lowliest also stands tall enough to summon the mighty.

The inclusivity of the gospel is dynamically unveiled in the Christmas narrative. The Nazarene teenagers, the shepherds, and the wise men from the East were all invited to be part of the same story. They were all welcome, and they were all called to bow before the same Savior.

You see, God’s invitation for salvation is not conditional based on status, ethnicity, or background. It isn’t something that is earned, it is something that is freely given for anyone who willingly accepts it.

Alexander MacLaren wrote, “God’s love is not drawn out by our lovableness, but wells up like an artesian spring from the depths of His nature.”

This is a perfect way to describe the reaches of God’s love across all of humanity. It is not given out based on spiritual tiers but instead offered to all who fear Him and call on His name. John 1:12 reminds us of this: “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

In other words, God does not love us based on merit – He loves unconditionally because He is love (1 John 4:8).

In a world that has become increasingly separated by influence, status, and titles, God cuts through all of these things and overturns society's view of importance. For many, the fear of being too flawed or not spiritual enough creates a hindrance to accepting God’s love. But this misses the heart of the gospel. Becoming an infant, God showed the leveling power of His grace from a manger in Bethlehem.

This Christmas, remember the message echoed through the teenagers from Nazareth, the angels in the outskirts of the city, and the long journey from the East: God’s gift is for everyone. His invitation is a love without favoritism, a grace without bias, and a salvation free from merit. He is the Christ – the Savior for all.