A Gift For You

We have all these gifts stacked by the wall. Wrapped up in shiny paper with ribbon tied around them. A few days from now the obvious will happen. Our kids will tear into them leaving trash bags full of scraps behind.

Daily, they scamper over to the wall just to have a look. They believe with all their little hearts the boxes hold something exciting and they’re counting down the days until they can open them.

‘Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.'” Luke 2:11 (HCSB)

Jesus Messiah. Name above all names. Born for you.

We’ve learned so much over these last six days about who Jesus is and how His power penetrates our lives. Jesus Messiah means He is the one. The one chosen by God to do everything the Bible said He would do … to be the Chief Cornerstone, The Great High Priest, Redeemer, Mediator, Lamb of God, and Anointed One.

But though the Messiah is all these things. And though He never changes. He can sometimes be like those presents piled up in my house … Unopened.

Jesus Messiah. Name above all names. Born for you. But you have to open the present.

Luke’s mom brought us those presents. She bought them. Wrapped them. Carried them in our house and left them here. They’re ours.

We see them with our eyes wrapped up beautifully. We walk by them every day. We speak of them often. Who is this one for? What might be inside? We even celebrate these gifts. Kids hop like bunnies in front of them with faces all aglow.

But, we have yet to experience the actual gifts.

‘This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.'” Luke 2:12 (HCSB)

I think sometimes we treat Jesus the same way. We see Him through a blog or a book or the pages of Scripture. We speak of Him and say words like grace and hope and peace. We even celebrate Him through song or service. Yet we don’t actually experience Him.

Because to experience Him sometimes makes a mess. Pretty wrapping gets ripped to shreds and there’s scraps left behind to clean up. To experience His power and His purpose sometimes means trials or pain or discomfort.

So, Jesus Messiah stays like a beautifully wrapped present with all His power packed inside. And we walk by Him every day.

I invite you today, to unwrap the Messiah. When you do, I know what you’ll find.

We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure.” Hebrews 6:19 (HCSB)

Tucked inside the feeding trough lies an anchor. An anchor to steady your life amidst a raging storm. An anchor to keep your life from drifting away from safety.

But to experience the Messiah as your anchor requires participation on your part. An anchor in a boat does nothing until you lower it into the sea. When storms rage and seas drift you have to reach for your anchor.

We will soon rip into those presents against the wall … a day every kid (big and small alike) in this house anticipates with excitement, and it’s likely you will do something similar this week.

As you do, I pray your heart will not rest content until you’ve unwrapped your Messiah. Born for you.

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!” Luke 2:14 (HCSB)

 

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