Giving of the Heart

Christmas is the time when our thoughts turn to giving and receiving, giving to loved ones and others in need while receiving gifts and blessings in return. Joy and happiness are present at family gatherings though pain and sorrow sometimes touch the heart when a loved one is missing. Collective materialism has captivated our culture, yet Christians continue to contend that the reason for the season is the birth of Christ.

The nativity prayer is, "O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today." We sing with the Herald Angels that Christ was "born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth." How can this holy Child be born in us and what is a second birth?

My previous posting used the illustration of a caterpillar spinning a cocoon and transforming into a butterfly. This process of metamorphosis may be thought of as a new or second birth. For humanity, a concise explanation of this process may be found in John 1:12,13: "But as many as received [Christ], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Some will say that I am not the man I used to be. I believe the easiest explanation for this is in my using the words of a song by Ponder, Harp, and Jennings titled Born Again:

You may think it's foolish what I'm going to say---
I'm not ashamed, no not ashamed.
One day I prayed, "Jesus, take my sin away,"
And that's when I was born again.
Born again, there's really been a change in me.
Born again, just like Jesus said.
Born again and all because of Calvary;
I'm glad, so glad that I've been born again.


When a person opens the door of acceptance to Christ and makes Him Lord of their life, the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit will provide the power to transform---to be reborn into life as a child of God. This rebirth changes a person from the inside out. This is the Christmas miracle that changes our thoughts, attitudes, and desires. A new life perspective develops once the heart is given to God. This gift exchange is not dependent on wealth. The apostle Paul spoke of the deep poverty of the Macedonian Christians as "they first gave themselves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:5). As we consider our connection with the birth of Christ, let us reflect on the Christmas verse by Christina Rossetti:

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would give Him a lamb;
If I were a wise man I would do my part;
Yet what can I give Him? Give Him my heart.

[All Bible texts from NKJV]

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