Christmas: A time of Giving
Christmas: A time of Giving
December 13, 2006 -
Christmas: A time of Giving
by Dr. David Tolliver
December 13, 2006
For all of us, Christmas is a time for giving. We give gifts to each other. And, as Missouri-Southern Baptists we give gifts to extend the Gospel around the world. Surely, one of the greatest traditions of our Southern Baptist churches is cooperative missions and ministries through the ongoing Cooperative Program and the special mission offerings of our convention.
Of course, the gift giving began when “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son”. In John 3: 16 we see the Reason for gift giving. God gave the gift of His Son simply because of His love for all of us. “For God so loved...that He gave”. God gave the gift of His Son simply because of His love for all of us. And I pray that when you are fighting the crowd at the mall this year, you portray the love of Christ in your attitude as well as your actions. I pray that as you give gifts this year, even your gifts will demonstrate your love for those to whom you are giving. I especially pray that this year, out of hearts filled with love for lost people, you will give generous gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions (LMCO).
Consider also the Recipients of gift giving. “The world” is the recipient of God’s gift of His Son. And the world is the recipient of your gift to LMCO. You will no doubt give Christmas gifts to your friends and family. But consider that when you give generously through the Cooperative Program and the LMCO, you will be giving to over 5,400 SBC missionaries who, on your behalf, are carrying the Gospel to more than 1,200 nations and people groups--those missionaries are the recipients of your LMCO gift. Think also about the millions who are lost around the world. They are the recipients of your generous gift to LMCO.
John 3:16 also reveals the Richness of God’s gift. God gave the most precious of all gifts. God gave “...His only begotten Son”. God held nothing back when He gave that first Christmas gift. And I am praying the Missouri Baptists will hold nothing back as they continue to give lavish gifts to missions and ministries through the Cooperative Program and give extravagantly to the 2006 LMCO.
And think about the Result of our giving. The result of God’s gift, for everyone who believes, is that they “...should not perish but have everlasting life”. Last year, Southern Baptists reported 950,000 baptisms worldwide. Most Missouri-Southern Baptist churches annually record their baptisms on the ACP. How many did your church baptize last year? 10? 20? 50? 100? No, the number is higher than that. Last year, as you gave generously through the Cooperative Program and LMCO, you and your church participated with the IMB and NAMB lead nearly 1 million people to Christ!
THANK YOU for giving to worldwide missions and ministry through the Cooperative Program and through the LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING FOR INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS!!
