What do you want for Christmas?
Oh, how I dislike that question. Yet I, myself, so often ask it of others. I’ll bet you know where I’m going with this already. We all want to give presents for Christmas that others will like. However, for the most part, I’m guessing that you probably don’t ask for much yourself and would be very content just to see everyone else happy and healthy on Christmas Day.
But every year that question still comes up. “I’d really like a Hershey bar." "Daaad! C'mon..." “O.K. how about a pair of blue socks” “You’ve got a whole drawer full of socks – it won’t even shut!” “I’ve got it! I’d like some more drawer space – for socks!” Try to get your daughter or wife to give you some drawer space for Christmas – good luck!!
So the dialogue goes until I say, “Look, I really don’t need…” Oops, wrong thing to say. “We know you don’t need anything – we’re asking you, “What do you want…?” And now we’re back where we started. I buy some time by promising to make a list. Let’s see… A 64’ Mustang, yellow with a black vinyl top. Home on a lake. Chicago Bear season tickets. An airplane…even though I don’t know how to fly. Maybe some flying lessons... For some reason, this list doesn’t seem to please anyone either.
How differently God approaches Christmas. In His wisdom (and mercy!), He does not ask us what we want for Christmas, nor does He give us everything for which we ask. Rather, out of His abundant love, His Fatherly divine goodness…He provides us with all that we need.
A baby in a manger is not what God’s people “wanted for Christmas.” In the Old Testament they had demanded a king…just like all the neighboring people had, and things didn’t change much over the generations. They still wanted God to send a king two thousand years ago, only now they wanted this king to displace the ruling Romans.
God’s people asked for an earthly king, a temporal or “temporary” fix if you will. God in His grace sent the King of Kings, an everlasting gift who provides us with forgiveness of sins, salvation and life eternal with Him in heaven.
I pray your days before Christmas are going well, that you are enjoying the children and their excitement, and most of all that you are pointing the little ones to Jesus.