This is the secret: that through the Good News those who are not Jews will share with the Jews in God’s blessing. They belong to the same body, and they share together in the promise that God made in Christ Jesus.– Ephesians 3:6

…in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Isaiah preaches to a divided kingdom. The people have been failed by their Davidic kings and find themselves in a deteriorating corrupt political climate surrounded by imminent destruction from powerful empires. They have been disobedient to God and have created a system of oppression and injustice for the weakest among them. The poor, the widow, and the orphan are preyed upon instead of cared for. Judah will soon be judged for their sin by their enemies who then in turn will also be judged.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. – Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV)

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession —to the praise of his glory.
– Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)

With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. – Ephesians 1:7b-10

Christmas points toward the birth of Jesus and his second coming. Jesus is God's gift to us. The way we celebrate Christmas is with gifts. You might be thinking of all the gifts you hope to receive. You may want better gifts than you received last year. Those desires can lead us to be short sighted, wanting things that are temporary instead of what’s lasting. The Apostle Paul reframed gift giving when he quoted Jesus’ saying, “It is better to give than to receive.” May what Jesus says allow us to see that the better gift is the one that is given.

Christmas points toward the birth of Jesus and his second coming. Jesus is God's gift to us. The way we celebrate Christmas is with gifts. You might be thinking of all the gifts you hope to receive. You may want better gifts than you received last year. Those desires can lead us to be short sighted, wanting things that are temporary instead of what’s lasting. The Apostle Paul reframed gift giving when he quoted Jesus’ saying, “It is better to give than to receive.” May what Jesus says allow us to see that the better gift is the one that is given.