“If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!” Matt 7:11 (Amp)
The sad reality is that for most people, Christmas is no longer principally about Jesus Christ or to serve to focus our minds on the selfless generosity His accomplishment should inspire within us. For many, Christmas has been reduced to a sterile business transaction-quid pro quo, you rub my back and I respond in kind by returning the compliment. Notwithstanding our underlying motivation, Christmas is still seen as the best time to exchange gifts and demonstrate our generosity to our fellow men. It is that time of the year when people specially go out of their way to be nice to others, even if they revert to type soon after.
Thankfully, God is not like that. His agape love for us ensures that He deals with us in a non-judgemental and unconditional way irrespective of our failure and foibles. In Jesus, God has already given mankind His unsurpassable best. Therefore, anything else that we might request of Him actually constitutes an icing on the cake and can never compare with what Jesus represented both to the Father and to us. So, when you are rushing to get that last minute yuletide deal, or wrapping up those Christmas gifts and placing them under the Christmas tree, or when you are eagerly unwrapping your gift on Christmas day and yelping with delight like a child who has just received his longed-for favourite toy, also remember and reflect on the fact that God, our loving Father, who delights in prospering His children is just as eager to see us yelp in delight as we take hold of those things that He has promised us.
We also need to understand that if God could give His best as represented by Jesus Christ, nothing is too good for Him to give to us, since the bible says that He will give to us according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. This means that God will give us what we desire in line with the high standards of heaven. He will not skimp or be stingy in giving to us whatever His word promises us. Consequently, He expects us to open our mouths wide in bold faith and ask for outlandish things, which He will nonetheless provide. The limit to what we can ask God is down to the limitations of our imagination. However, God has even promised to top whatever it is that we can imagine. Since He is not holding back, then why should we? If God is willing and ready to give, why are we reluctant to ask? If God’s gift to us is already means-tested, then it is according to His unlimited means and not based on our finite resources. So, this Christmas, why not lay your cards on the table for God and tell Him what you really, really want. First ensure that your request is in line with His will, then ask Him and expect His favourable response. Understand that everyday is Christmas to the generous God that we love and serve, who has no guilt whatsoever in blessing those He loves. This Christmas, keep this comforting thought at the forefront of your mind and act accordingly.
Prayer:
Father, I rejoice in the fact that you will never withhold any good thing from those you love. I revel in that love as I anticipate the fulfilment of your promise in my life. Thank you Lord for a wonderful Christmas.