On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

In this passage, we see Mary and Joseph ensuring that their son meets all the requirements of the Jewish law. Jesus’ naming day is also the day he is circumcised, thus identifying him as a Jewish male.

Then it gets even more interesting with the reference to the Old Testament law and the command that all first-born males should be consecrated to God.

To consecrate means to officially hand something over to God for his plans and purposes. Being the Messiah, it is absolutely critical that Jesus is consecrated to God on this eighth day.

But what about us? What can we relinquish to God for his plans and purposes?

This is how it was for the Lord. How much more then, his followers?

If we are walking in the way of Christ, then we will hand precious things over to God for him to choose what is done with them.

And when we hand things over to God for his plans and purposes, we might just find that ‘God gives the very best to those that leave the choice with Him.’

Or in other words, we might just find that God knows us better than we realise and loves us more than we imagine.

And that he actually wants to give us good things.

Consecrating yourself or any part of your life to God is a big deal. When we do so, God takes us completely seriously. Others may mock us, but God does not. He weighs up our offering respectfully and makes careful note of it.

He also uses it as an opportunity to bless us. As the old adage – which is true – says:

You can’t outgive God.

Sure, you can try to outgive God if you really want to, but I can assure you now, it’s a competition that you won’t win.

Whenever we make a serious sacrifice for God, he looks us square in the eye and says two words: “Game On.”

So this Christmas, why not be like Christ and consecrate something of yourself to God. When done with a pure heart, you can’t lose. In fact, you might discover that you get even more blessing poured out than you bargained for initially.

Yours preparing you to be blown away,

Alison