Jesus, the Most Surprising Gift
During the Christmas season most of us have the pleasure (or strain) of shopping for a present. We are shopping for a present that will bring excitement, joy, and surprise to the receiver. The present does not have to be big or expensive to elicit a reaction of genuine surprise or excitement. One of the things that irks me as a parent is when my wife and I buy a present for one of the kids and we are super excited about it and have put forth serious thought about the gift and when it is opened the level of excitement coming from one of our kids does not match ours. I have often wondered why their excitement level is not higher.
The level of excitement comes from at least three precursors. The gift meets a need, meaning the gift fills a hole in the life of the receiver. Second, the gift fulfills a want, meaning the gift satisfies a desire in the life of the receiver, but does not necessarily meet a genuine need. Third, the gift elicits excitement and surprise from the receiver when it exceeds expectations, meaning the gift is more than they expected. It is a very rare occasion when a single gift meets all three criteria.
When I think of the Christmas season my mind automatically goes back to the first Christmas, the day Jesus was given to the world. As I read the words the angel spoke to the shepherds, I can’t help but feel excited as I imagine their surprise. The angel of the Lord appears to shepherds in the field and declares, “Don’t be afraid! I bring good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David” (Luke 2:10-11)!
The most surprising and exciting gifts are the ones we never see coming and I can tell you these lowly shepherds did not expect this to take place as they tended their sheep.
The most surprising and exciting gifts are the ones we never see coming
This morning as I was reading in my devotional time, I came across a verse in 2 Corinthians 6:1 that made me stop and go back to the Christmas story. I thought of the scene of the shepherds and the angels. In 2 Cor. 6:1 the apostle Paul makes this statement concerning the gift we have been given in Jesus, “As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.”
Paul recognized the great gift of grace we have been given in Christ, but he also knew that many of us forget that gift. Yes, we receive Christ forever upon our salvation, but each day we wake up we are once again experiencing the blessing of this gift. And for many of us, we are like the sour faced kid on Christmas morning who opens up a gift that was given with thought, heart, and love by his or her parents only to be apathetic to this gift of love and sacrifice. Many of us are no longer appreciative, excited, or surprised by the gift we have been given in Christ.
The gift of Jesus should bring excitement and surprise to us each day. Jesus meets a need we desperately have in that he paid a debt we could never pay. He took care of the bill of our sin. Jesus fulfills a want in our hearts because he fills our desire to be loved, valued, and have a purpose. Finally, Jesus absolutely exceeds our expectations. Jesus’ gift of salvation is a recurring gift each day. Every morning we awake in a relationship with Jesus is another opportunity to experience his grace and mercy; to walk closely with him; to grow in him; and to share him.
So, this Christmas season I want to encourage you to take a moment to stop and consider the great gift God has given you in his son. May we never get over what has been given to us. Every day with Jesus is to be a day of joy, excitement, and surprise.
Blessings,
Bro. Brad