Most people love Christmas and from November to early January even those that claim to be atheists seem to be gripped by a spirit of Christmas - a spirit that expresses love to people by giving them gifts. We are even charitable to people we do not know at all, and give to those who are in more difficult circumstances than we are. In expressing love by giving, we behave just like our creator, reflecting that trait of our Father in heaven who "loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
Just as we give our children gifts in this period as an expression of love, whether or not they have been deserving of it throughout the year, so has God also shown us great love in that even when we did not acknowledge him, he allowed Jesus Christ to die for all on the cross. Christmas is a season for all - Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, free thinkers, atheists, straight people, gay people, climate change advocates, animal rights campaigners, environmentalists, pro-abortion campaigners, whatever your persuasion - all give gifts.
In the same vein, God's gift is for all mankind. God is all-inclusive on this gift and does not care if you are Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, free thinker, atheist, straight, gay, environmentalist... Whatever your persuasion, 'everyone' who accepts his gift (and believes in Jesus), will have a life with God forever. God does not care about religion. Rather he cares more about a relationship with you. If you believe Jesus and accept God's gift, you are declared to be right standing before God, not because you have lived perfectly but because God has declared it to be so. From that time onward, God sees you always through the prism of Christ.
This Christmas, take time to consider God's gift to you. Park religion at the door, because God is not impressed. Rather, accept his gift and open a new life of personal relationship with him through Jesus Christ.
