A few years ago a friend shared with me an important part of how she celebrates Christmas every year; she asks Jesus what gift He would like for His birthday. When a family member or good friend has a birthday, we often give them gifts. But have you given Jesus a birthday present? What could you possibly offer as a gift fit for a King?

That struck me as beautiful. We often think of Jesus as giving us gifts, and He does! On the very first Christmas He came into the world offering the best gift ever – the gift of Himself. Wonder, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth!

Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus being born as a human baby – the incarnation. (Yes, He almost certainly wasn’t born on December 25, but celebrating this momentous event is appropriate!) Many people give each other gifts at Christmas; what about offering a gift to the One we are truly celebrating?!

So, what will we offer Jesus in response to His unspeakable gift of Himself?

The last few years I’ve been intentionally asking Jesus what gift He would like me to offer Him on His birthday. Some years I have received a very clear request from Jesus. Other times it’s simply been a sense in my heart of what He might desire.

One year I experienced Jesus asking me to let go of something that had been very important to me for many years, and the results in my life were beautiful. Another year I felt Him asking for some quality time with me, so I went completely non-digital for some days to just be with Him. And another year He asked me to offer Him the gift of my trust in a challenging situation. This is a relationship!

So what if you were to offer Jesus a birthday gift?

A Gift for Jesus

Giving Jesus a gift fits with the message of Christmas. The visitors that we call the wise men offered expensive and precious gifts to the child Jesus, and that was part of God’s provision for His Son during the family’s soon-to-come sojourn in Egypt. (See Matthew 2:1-15)

You and I can never impress God with our gifts – of service, of money, or anything else. The whole world is His! But like any close relationship, giving goes both ways. Most of all, Jesus wants your heart! And if He has your heart, it will be natural for you to want to express that by being generous with Him in many ways.

So consider, what might Jesus want from you this Christmas? Your gift fit for a King might be:

• Giving up an addiction that keeps you from being close to Him.
• Offering forgiveness to someone who has treated you poorly.
• Releasing to Him a person or situation you’ve been holding onto.
• Sharing the story of Jesus with someone who doesn’t know Him.
• A new habit of spending time daily, even if briefly to start, with your Best Friend.
• Making a financial gift in His name to a charitable organization or a person in need.

I challenge you to ask Jesus what He would like you to offer Him on His birthday.

And then do it.

Your Turn: What are you offering Jesus as His birthday present this year? I’d love to hear from you in the comment below.

Want more? This week on the podcast I talk with columnist and author Bob Welch about A Christmas Carol – lessons in how to live, and how not to live. Listen or watch here.

Tweetables: Why not share this post?

• Have you ever thought of offering Jesus a birthday present on Christmas – when we celebrate His birth? Friends offer good friends birthday presents. So what gift fit for a King might you offer your Best Friend on His birthday?  Tweet that.

This Might Be Your Birthday Gift to Jesus

Consider making a year-end gift to Dr. Carol Ministries in Jesus name as your birthday gift to Him. Help us bring transformation and healing to more hearts for which Jesus came.

Something special happens when people gather in a small group in a safe space to address things that are hard, and allow Jesus to come into their stories. This happens at Transformation Place, where lives are restored, hearts are mended, and freedom is reclaimed.

Find out how your Christmas gift to Jesus can transform someone’s life today!