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This time of year, a pressure or a nagging thought begins to gnaw at us all, the question: what am I going to get people for Christmas this year?
The idea of giving gifts centers around the idea of showing someone that we love them that we care about them, and that we were thinking about them. When buying gifts for our loved ones, we seek to make the gift personal and to show that we both know them as a person and appreciate the person that they are.
When giving gifts to those we are not as close to we often seek to give them something useful or fun. There is another option, and it applies equally to all people that we will meet in the coming weeks, months and years.
There is a command from Scripture that is the best gift we can give to every person we meet this Christmas. We should read these words from 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, "9: For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10: who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11: Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
It might sound like a cliche to you as you read that we are supposed to encourage one another but take a moment and consider what encouragement actually is.
Consider the world in which we live and how people suffer in this world both externally and internally, life is a difficult journey for each person. Whether someone appears joyful or not, every single person that we meet needs encouragement and we have the choice to give it.
We have within us the potential to share the truth of God's Word with others and lift them from wherever they are in life and into a place of encouragement, joy and hope. The command from Scripture to give someone support, confidence and hope is not something we should take lightly or without conviction.
We have the ability to give to others support, confidence, hope and love all by simply obeying Scripture and looking at others as Christ has looked at them. Remind your neighbor that God loves them and that you love them as well.
Tell your family that they can find all the hope and encouragement they could ever want or need by looking to the Lord and His Word. God has offered each of us the greatest gift possible and the true joy of the season is that we can spread that encouragement and love to every person we meet. May we each give freely the glorious gift of encouragement in Christ this wonderful Christmas season!
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Pastor Matt Kinley of First Church of Christ, Lock Haven.