When Christmas comes, I’m already thinking about my goals for the next year and reflecting on the past year—what I didn’t get done that I meant to or should have. It’s like the message of an old song we used to sing:

What shall I give Thee, Master?
Thou Who didst die for me!
How can I give less than give of my best,
When Thou hast given all to me!

What shall I give Thee, Master?
Thou Who didst die for me!
How can I give less than all of my best,
I must give all to Thee!
—Homer W. Grimes

We’re talking about the Master’s birthday, and what could we give Him? Jesus said that if we have helped or fed or given a drink of water to someone in need, “to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40). So whatever you’ve done to help people hasn’t just been for those people; you also did it for the Lord! Whatever you do in word or deed, do all to the glory of God (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31).

The day came when I decided I should give my all to the Lord because the Lord had done more than all for me! How can I give less than all of my best, when Jesus gave all for me? And I encourage you to do the same. That’s what Jesus did—He gave you all!

Let’s give of our best to the Lord. Let’s give Him gifts that will please Him and show Him how much we love Him. Even our praises are gifts to the Lord. The apostle Paul tells us to “continually offer the sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15)—“sacrifice” in this case meaning a gift, an offering to the Lord. To praise the Lord and thank Him for all His gifts is giving to the Lord!

Giving the Gospel to those who haven’t heard is giving to the Lord, and giving to the poor is giving to the Lord! Giving people the Lord’s solutions to their problems from the Word is giving to the Lord! There are so many ways we can give back to Him!

Whatever you do for someone else is giving to the Lord, because that’s what He would rather have you do than anything else—help others, give out the Word, get people saved, win new citizens for the Kingdom of God! We’re helping to fill up all that empty space in Heaven! He doesn’t want any vacancies!

So may that be your Christmas present for Jesus! God bless and keep you this Christmas and on into the next year!