“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”

The first thing that came to mind when I read this verse was: why wouldn’t you want to? If someone is due my help or even just a kind gesture, why in the world would I—or anyone else—not give it to them? Perhaps it’s something they deserve, but I don’t like them, or maybe I have what is owed to them but want to keep it. As you can see, neither of those motives is acceptable. Maybe it’s uncomfortable or even a bit painful for us to give it to them. The model for this truth is the Savior born at the first Christmas. God certainly owed us nothing, and He knew that giving us that good gift would cost Him the ultimate price. The baby in the manger was an undeserved gift to a planet in great need. God knew not all of us would accept His gift, and that had to be painful. The main difference between this verse and the first Christmas is that we were not due that gift. Another critical difference is that He paid the ultimate price to give us that gift: His innocent Son’s life. Reflecting on that amazing gift is a great motivation to think about what we can do for others in this season who need a kind gesture. My 7-year-old granddaughter told me today that she is going through her dolls and stuffed animals to donate to poor children who would love them. She challenged me to do the same. I don’t have any dolls or stuffed animals, but I do have things—nice things—that would surely bless someone else. Today, be a gift giver.#BeTheEdge

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬b NIV‬‬