Now Naaman was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy

2 Kings 5:1

Christmas is almost here again. How time flies! It’s the usual time for giving and receiving gifts. Unfortunately, not everybody may enjoy the blessings of a packaged gift. Many households lack the means. Some children will be disappointed, while others may be overwhelmed with their gifts. In some homes, there may not even be a good meal. Not all fingers are equal, right? But I dare say that we will all receive the best Gift of our life this Christmas. It is the gift that’s usually lost amid all the commercial activities that have characterized the season in the past. Let me explain.

Naaman was once the army commander of Syria. Bible describes him as “A great man … and highly regarded … He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy” (vs. 1). The man had everything in this world: prestige, a good job, wealth, and a decent family. But Naaman had no peace because of his leprosy. The world regarded him highly, but he had no inner peace. There was a need in his life, and he desperately needed healing.

Naaman’sstory is like that of every human being. Many people have everything they need apart from peace. They may pretend to be happy, but deep down in their hearts, there is disorder and chaos. The fact is, there is a void in every human life that makes peace evasive until it is filled. It is the absence of God because of sin (Rom. 3:23). It is a universal disease of everyone that has separated them from God (6:23). Like Naaman, people may have everything, but they have leprosy.

Over the years, many have tried to cure this disease with many things and in so many ways with great disappointments. The fact is that there is no cure to the sin disease through any human or material agency, but God Himself.

That’s why a child was born in a manger in Bethlehem some two thousand and eighteen years ago. It is His birth the world celebrates as Christmas (Is. 9:6; Lk.2:11-12). He is God’s gift to the world for the cure of our leprosy – our sin disease. Christmas, therefore, has a gift of its own, and it is for everyone in this world regardless of race, social class, status, color, or gender (Jn.3:16; Titus 2: 11).

Therefore, no one lacks a gift this Christmas. The current economic situation may deprive you of the gift you crave, but you have the best Gift in Jesus. Your child may not receive what you promised him or her this Christmas, but it could be your best opportunity to explain to them the real purpose of Christmas, and that will be your best gift to him/her, ever.

The servant girl in Naaman’s household gave her master the best gift when she introduced him to the prophet of the God of Israel through whom he received his healing. In the same way, introduce somebody to Christ our Savior, the manger child, that they may be saved.