Have we lost the child like anticipation?

Have you ever opened a Christmas gift early and rewrapped it? I love surprises now, especially when it is a great gift. However, when I was younger I wasn’t nearly as patient. I struggled with the anticipation of the unknown gift.

Well, one time when I was in grade school, my brother and I couldn’t handle the 14 day wait until Christmas. In a surreptious manner, we hid under our pool table and started opening some of our gifts. It was great! We were playing with our gifts 2 weeks early. I especially enjoyed the Rock em Sock em robots. We also had a football player that you would pound his head and he would kick the ball. We were clearly out of sight from my mom but she had sensational hearing and senses (Don’t all Moms?) We were caught in the act and forced to rewrap the gifts.

Within each of us is a desire to receive our gift early. I would assume that the Israelites were no different. They were waiting for the messiah. They knew a little from God’s word on what He would be like but didn’t know much. They also didn’t know when Christmas was, they had an indefinite wait. We go nuts, waiting 28 days for Christmas. The irony- we really want that _________ that will eventually be in the garage sale. They were waiting for the MESSIAH. I wonder if they dwelt on the words of Isaiah 9:6? I wonder if they had countdowns to Christmas? (probably not since they didn’t know the time)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

A child has been born, He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. We have an opportunity to celebrate His birth in a few weeks. Are you anxiously unwrapping the greatest gift ever?

Have we lost our focus? Are we caught up in the things that don’t really matter? God sent the most amazing and most needed gift. May God restore in us again a longing to unwrap the gift of Jesus Christ. May we never forget our condition without Christ.