The waiting and anticipation is over. It may be that some of you knew all along what you were getting for Christmas. You made a list, you were asked for suggestions. Some presents will have come as a surprise, you weren’t expecting them.
I’m a traditionalist, so that means I don’t like the idea of everyone having a list of expectations. I think there’s something wonderful about seeing surprise and joy on the faces of your family on Christmas Day. I also enjoy trying to identify presents that will be suited to those I’m buying for. Of course that can lead to disappointment too when you get it wrong. I’m not sure if the disappointment is greater for the one receiving something they have no interest in or for the giver, detecting the fake smile and watching the gift be quietly put away, probably to be exchanged or re-gifted.
Our church’s Advent/Christmas theme this year has been “What are you worthy of this Christmas?” I wonder if your expectations were met. Were you joyfully surprised or sadly disappointed? Did you get what you wanted? Did you get what you deserve?
We’ve been discovering through our series that we are not worthy, we don’t deserve anything good from God. We deserve justice, God’s judgement on sin. Yet the beauty of Christmas is that we don’t get what we deserve, we don’t get what we are worthy of. Inmstead we get exactly what we need.
A few years back at a previous church, we looked at different gifts that God gives, love, peace, joy, hope, salvation. Yet the truth is that these are the little gifts in the outer wrapping, they are all bundled in with the true gift and dependent on it. One carol says
“how silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given.”
The gift is Jesus himself. He came to live among us as a baby, he gave his life for us on the Cross, he include us in himself at the resurrection and he comes now, through the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Jesus gave himself for us and gives himself to us because that is the gift we need.
Faithroots 