One of the main activities of the Christmas season is the exchange of gifts between family members and loved ones. In some homes, children wake up on Christmas day to find presents waiting for them under the Christmas tree in the living room, presumably left there by Santa Claus.
In many countries in Africa, Santa Claus is not well known to leave presents at home, possibly because of the poor economic climate. However, the children get to visit him in his grotto where he gives gifts to children depending on where he is located. In the privileged neighbourhoods, he is known to give nice fairly expensive gifts which is a fall out of the price parents would have paid to give their children the special privilege to meet Mr. Santa.

In other places however, he gives out cheap and sometimes useless gifts because he needs to make profit from the low fees being paid by parents who belong to the lower class of the society. While such parents complain about the quality of gifts given to their children, their wards are not bothered, the excitement of meeting Santa Claus is enough satisfaction for them.

Irrespective of the quality of the gift, sooner or later, the excitement dies down and the gift loses its value. It soon ends up in the store or one corner of the home reserved for junk items.

There is however one special gift given to all men irrespective of class, race, culture or geographical location. The quality of this gift is the same everywhere. This gift didn’t come from the imaginary Santa; it came from God, the creator of heaven and earth. It came from the one who created us in His own image and likeness. This gift is called eternal life and is was delivered to us not by Santa, but by Jesus Christ our Lord.

As we celebrate Christmas, let us be thankful for the greatest gift mankind has ever received. For those who do not have this gift, it is available freely and you do not have to pay to receive it. All you need to do is to acknowledge that you are a sinner and need God to save you. Accept Jesus into your life and you’ve got the gift for all time!

For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God. (Eph 2:8 - Amplified Bible)




Steve Popoola is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter and the webmaster of Biblepraise Fellowship Online at http://www.biblepraise.org . British by birth, He currently resides in Lagos , Nigeria with wife Maris and their children; Praise, Stephanie and Precious. He works as an IT professional in a bank. He presently serves as Church Secretary  and Head of Music Ministry in his local church. He is the Moderator/Editor of Biblepraise Newsletter. He can be reached through His email address, steve@biblepraise. org