A few years ago (and before I started this blog) I remember majoring on how the most precious gift we receive at Christmas is Jesus himself, and how we need to enjoy “unwrapping” that gift.
This year I find myself reflecting similarly that it is awesome that God's response to a fallen world riven with rejection, misunderstanding, and alienation, is to give himself – through his son Jesus. He gives himself unconditionally, not requiring a partiuclar response but giving us a choice. Will we receive this gift? Will we accept him?
So in a world where people want to be known, loved and accepted, God does not encourage us to seek acceptance, but to be one who accepts.
The Dawn Treader - Richard's Cabin 