In the game of football the most exciting play is the "pass" where the football is thrown to a receiver. But there are passing plays that are NOT passing plays. If the receiver does not receive the ball and hang on to it, the play is ruled an incomplete pass.

At Christmas time there is much emphasis on gift giving. But gifts are not gifts unless they are received. You can put a gift in a box, wrap it up nicely, and attempt to give it to someone. But if the gift is refused or not received, it never becomes a gift. It is, for all intents and purposes, and incomplete pass.

The greatest gift that God ever gave mankind was his son Jesus Christ. Christmas is the time when we celebrate His birth. Eventually Jesus would die on a cross as payment for our sins (aka trespass). And that is the key part of the gift. It is not that Jesus was born, it was not that he lived, the gift was the salvation from sin provided by his death. The Bible says:

Romans 6:23 (NIV - New International Version)
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

or in simpler terms

Romans 6:23 (NIV - New International Version)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The gift is offered to everyone. Here is what the Bible says about that:

John 3:16 (NIV - New International Version)
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.

But just because God is offering the whole world a gift, does not mean that everyone receives the gift. If the gift is not accepted, then there is no gift. The Bible says:

John 1:12 (NIV - New International Version)
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

The greatest gift of Christmas is Jesus Christ. But he is not a gift if you have not received him.

My hope this Christmas, if you have not already done so, is that you will accept God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, Jesus is the only way:

John 14:6 (NIV - New International Version)
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Acts 4:12 (NIV - New International Version)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

God Bless You, and Merry Christmas.