A father's gift
We have now officially entered the Christmas season. Our bellies and hearts are full and we are beginning to turn our minds towards "the reason for the season."
As I think about that phrase, I find myself wondering, "What is the reason for the season?"
The obvious answer is Jesus, but what about Jesus? Amidst all the warnings not to get caught up in the commercialism, what is it I am supposed to be caught up in?
This year I'm wondering if we've left something out of the traditional Christmas story. We know about the baby in the manger; we know about the young mother giving birth far from home. We remember the celebration of the angels and the shepherds.
What I don't hear much about is the Father. We are so focused on the story unfolding on the Earth, we forget about what's unfolding in Heaven.
The event we call Christmas was planned before the beginning of the world. Before Creation, before Eden, before Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, the Father planned the giving of his Son to the world.
Think about it. I've never been a father, but I have given many gifts. The best ones are those you must plan in advance.
First, you realize the need or desire - your son wants a new bike. Then you calculate the cost. You begin to plan the how and when. You save money, bring in a friend who can watch him while you go buy it and another who can hide it at her house.
It's all a bit inconvenient, but all you can think about is the look on his face the day you give it to him. The cost, the sacrificed time and effort - it all pales before the anticipation of his joy and excitement.
What a gift our Father gave us! It's not wrong to think about what it cost him - but have you ever had a person turn away from their gifts and pester you with questions about what they cost? Their inability to enjoy them steals your joy in giving them.
Yes, we are going to focus on Jesus and the people around us this season. But let's take time to focus on our Father, as well. Let's open our hearts to the gift He's given us and allow ourselves to feel the excitement and gratitude of receiving it.
And don't be afraid if you feel He's got something else to give you this season. It can be our first reaction to say, "Oh, no, I can't think about myself right now!" But it's in our Father's nature to want to give good gifts to his children (James 1:17). Don't steal his joy in planning it!
As we plan and prepare our gifts for others this year, let's also prepare our hearts to receive from our Father. Let's push past "grown-up" mindsets and regain the childlike innocence that expects good and even cries with joy when it appears.
The Father did pay the ultimate price in giving his Son to us. Let's not be too adult to receive him properly.
As I think about that phrase, I find myself wondering, "What is the reason for the season?"
The obvious answer is Jesus, but what about Jesus? Amidst all the warnings not to get caught up in the commercialism, what is it I am supposed to be caught up in?
This year I'm wondering if we've left something out of the traditional Christmas story. We know about the baby in the manger; we know about the young mother giving birth far from home. We remember the celebration of the angels and the shepherds.
What I don't hear much about is the Father. We are so focused on the story unfolding on the Earth, we forget about what's unfolding in Heaven.
The event we call Christmas was planned before the beginning of the world. Before Creation, before Eden, before Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, the Father planned the giving of his Son to the world.
Think about it. I've never been a father, but I have given many gifts. The best ones are those you must plan in advance.
First, you realize the need or desire - your son wants a new bike. Then you calculate the cost. You begin to plan the how and when. You save money, bring in a friend who can watch him while you go buy it and another who can hide it at her house.
It's all a bit inconvenient, but all you can think about is the look on his face the day you give it to him. The cost, the sacrificed time and effort - it all pales before the anticipation of his joy and excitement.
What a gift our Father gave us! It's not wrong to think about what it cost him - but have you ever had a person turn away from their gifts and pester you with questions about what they cost? Their inability to enjoy them steals your joy in giving them.
Yes, we are going to focus on Jesus and the people around us this season. But let's take time to focus on our Father, as well. Let's open our hearts to the gift He's given us and allow ourselves to feel the excitement and gratitude of receiving it.
And don't be afraid if you feel He's got something else to give you this season. It can be our first reaction to say, "Oh, no, I can't think about myself right now!" But it's in our Father's nature to want to give good gifts to his children (James 1:17). Don't steal his joy in planning it!
As we plan and prepare our gifts for others this year, let's also prepare our hearts to receive from our Father. Let's push past "grown-up" mindsets and regain the childlike innocence that expects good and even cries with joy when it appears.
The Father did pay the ultimate price in giving his Son to us. Let's not be too adult to receive him properly.
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