PIzza Toppings and Gift Wrappings

Dear Friends, 

As is probably true with most married couples, my wife and I are very different. Our differences show up in all areas of life - from what sort of movies we like, to how we tell stories, to what we like on our pizza. But one of the areas where this difference is really obvious is gift wrapping. My wife goes to great lengths to wrap a gift, beginning by making sure the paper is appropriate for the occasion. From there, she makes sure an attractive ribbon surrounds the gift. Finally, it's all topped off with a beautiful bow. In other words, she puts a lot of thought into it. On the other hand, I put very little thought into wrapping the gifts I give. Actually, if you get a gift from me, you're lucky if it doesn't show up in the bag which the sales clerk put it in when I bought it. 

I've been thinking about this difference a lot this week, mostly because Christmas is right around the corner and I have gifts to wrap. But it's also been on my mind because Christmas is all about God's gift to us. At first, I thought that perhaps God was on my side in this one, as the gift He gave us came in very simple wrapping. However, as I've pondered it, I've come to see that there was a lot more thought put into it than Jesus simply being dropped off in “swaddling cloth”. 

For example, when God decided to send His Son to this earth, He chose a time in history when there was an expansive empire ruling over most of the civilized world. This is significant both because this empire established a single language for everyone to use, and because they built an extensive road system that allowed for safe travel. Both of these factors enabled the Gospel message to spread quickly throughout the known world. 

Additionally, God put a lot of thought into the family Jesus would be born into. The parents He chose were working class people from a small, insignificant town. And by choosing people from humble circumstances, God made sure that Jesus was accessible to the people He had come to save. So Jesus was a king, but He was a king born in a small town to every-day parents, making Him a King everyone could approach. 

Those are just two examples of the thought and planning that went into the gift of our Savior. However, most of the people who were around when Jesus was born completely missed the event because they weren't looking for God's plan. Not because they were necessarily bad people, they were just so wrapped up in their own plans that they couldn't see God’s. And unfortunately, that's a mistake that many of us continue to make - especially during a busy time of year like Christmas. 

So today, let's ask God to help us slow down, appreciate the beauty of the gift He gave, and look for His plan for our holiday. Maybe He wants us to reach out to a neighbor, or help someone with a financial need, or invite a coworker to church. Whatever it is, let's ask God to show His plan to us, and then help us be obedient to follow. Let's not be so focused on the gifts and “wrappings” of Christmas, however beautiful they seem, that we miss out on what God's already given, and what He’s now wanting to do through us. 

Amen? 

Daniel