Unwrapping the Gift
Having Child Like Faith at Christmas
Matthew 18:1-4
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him among them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. NASB2020
It was completely quiet in the house and then I was awakened by the sound of children trying to act quiet. I could hear them doing their best to whisper as they were running down the hall toward our bedroom door to see if we were awake. It was Christmas morning and they were wide awake with excitement. They had already been up staring at the presents under the tree which had been there for a week or more. They knew which ones had their names on them. Christmas morning was here, and they didn’t have to wait anymore, they finally get to open their presents.
Of course they knew they had to wait for their mother and I to get up. So there they were at our bedroom door asking if we were awake. I have to admit I was excited for their excitement. We got up and moved to the living room where the tree with all the presents sat under it. They were so excited as they started opening up their presents with each gift getting a special reaction.
That was many years ago, my daughters are all grown now with their own homes and waking up with their children on Christmas morning. Looking back, what is so amazing to me was their excitement, the excitement of a child.
At that moment it was their whole world, nothing else existed. There was nothing more important than that moment, they were focused. Remembering all those Christmas mornings their excitement is what I remember most but also as parents our excitement as well. It was just as exciting watching their excitement, it was contagious. It was priceless to see their reaction when they saw the gift inside for the first time. While there was anticipation on their side, there was on my side as well. Even though I knew what was in the wrapped present, watching them was a thrill.
Jesus said unless you become like a little child. Think of how our Heavenly Father is when He blesses us, watching us as we are surprised by the blessing just like opening a present. Again, Jesus said unless we become like little children. While we cannot go back and be a child again, we can look at the truths about being a child and what that means in attitude of heart and mind to imitate now.
Christmas is His celebrated birthday all over the world. I know there are those who say it wasn’t really on the 25th, so What?! There is no other known date and there is no other time people are celebrating His birth. Therefore we should do our best to center our attention around His birth. We can show our excitement for Him, put Him first.
Ask yourself how excited are you about the gift of Jesus? Can you imagine God the Father giving us His Son knowing what was in the gift we would unwrap. He told us about this gift for thousands of years through the prophets and patriarchs, and now this gift gets to be opened. Try to imagine how excited the Father must have been. The day of His birth was finally here. He knew what the gift was. Think of His excitement. He sent angels to announce it and they were rejoicing and giving praise for this gift. How exciting this was for all of heaven to join in the celebration of His Son being born.
Luke 2:10-14
And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.” NASB2020
Just like my children on Christmas morning opening their presents, we get an opportunity to be reminded of God’s gift, His Son Jesus every Christmas. However the difference now is we get to enjoy this gift 24/7, 365 days every year. We get to unwrap the present of Jesus given to us every single morning we get up. It can be Christmas morning, every day. How excited about this gift are you? Even if you’re a fuddy dud about Christmas, use this time of the year to remind yourself and as many around you of this truth. His birth was the entrance of salvation for the world. It was the Fathers greatest gift for us.
2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! NIV
Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—NIV
Ephesians 4:7
Yet grace (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift. AMPC
Matthew 7:11
……….. how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! NIV
His life, grace, and mercy is new every morning. We get to open this gift of Christ every single day. He is alive, living and breathing right now. Again, how excited about Jesus are you? We get to open the greatest gift ever given in the history of mankind. Every day the gift of His Son is there for us to unwrap and explore all the depths and riches of His grace, His love, the blessings He has for us, afresh and anew. He knows what we are going to unwrap, and He is just excited. So how much excitement should we really be displaying to those around us?
We should always have enthusiasm and excitement about Jesus, but Christmas gives us a great opportunity to show it, especially because people are thinking about it.
Enthusiasm: intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.
If you are excited about Jesus then your excitement can naturally spill over to excite others using Christmas to show your enthusiasm for Jesus. Just like my excitement watching my children’s excitement opening their presents, let your excitement be seen. Show others Christmas is about the gift of Christ and how everyday we get to open this present which started at His birth. Of course this shouldn’t be just at Christmas but all year, however this time of the year is when the majority of people throughout the world are aware of His birth. Unwrap God’s gift of Jesus in front of as many people as you can showing excitement and enthusiasm.
The most amazing part of this truth is we get to keep opening the gift of Jesus everyday for the rest of our lives. How exciting, to have Him as the gift which keeps giving. The Father gave us a gift, one which can be opened all the time, not just on Christmas. Let our excitement and enthusiasm spill over as we open the present of Jesus Christ for others to witness.
Excitement, and enthusiasm are contagious. Unwrap the Present of Jesus in front of everyone, so everyone one can see how great a present we were truly given. Christmas is a wonderful reminder of the birth of His Son given to the world as the greatest gift ever given in the history of mankind on earth.
How excited about Jesus are you?
Do you anticipate unwrapping the present of Christ?
Is your excitement contagious?
