Our Daily Bread: Character-Driven LeadershipSample

Giving Like Christ

Give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice. -Romans 12:1

When author O. Henry wrote his beloved 1905 Christmas story, “The Gift of the Magi,” he was struggling to rebound from personal trials and troubles. Still, he penned an inspiring story that highlights a beautiful, Christ-like character and leadership trait—that of sacrifice.

In the story, an impoverished wife sells her beautiful long hair on Christmas Eve to buy a platinum pocket watch chain for her husband. As she learns later, however, her husband has sold his pocket watch to buy a set of combs for her beautiful hair.

Their greatest gift to each other? Sacrifice. From each, it showed great love. In that way, the story represents the loving gifts the magi (wise men) gave to the Christ child at His holy birth. More than those gifts, however, the Holy Child would one day give His life for the whole world.

In our daily lives, believers in Jesus can highlight His great gift by offering to others the sacrifice of our time, treasuries, and a temperament that all speak of love.

As the apostle Paul wrote, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice— the kind he will find acceptable” (ROMANS 12:1). For God, in Christ, there’s no better gift than sacrificing for others with His love.

PATRICIA RAYBON

What sacrificial gift have you received from someone that showed Christ’s love? What sacrificial gift can you give to those you lead?

In my daily life, dear God, may I show others Christ by sacrificing my needs for theirs.