December 2023
God will look to every soul like its first love because He is its first love. -C.S. Lewis
Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
-Joshua 22:5
Around this time of year, everyone from Santa Claus to your friends and family are probably going to ask you: “What do you WANT for Christmas?” And odds are, there are probably a few things that come to mind. Even as I go about my shopping for others, I find so many things at the store catching my own eye. I’m ashamed to say that too often I’m probably guilty of buying for others those things that I myself want.
But have you ever had anyone ask you what you NEED for Christmas? Such a different question, isn’t it? Because that speaks to the issue of provision instead of luxury. And as we stop to think about what we need this season, that creates a much different, and probably a much less tangible list. We need fellowship. We need peace, joy, hope, and love. These are the very things that God came to give us.
So long as we focus on our wants, we shall never be content. The result of feeding selfish desires is not contentment, but rather an even bigger appetite. To quote the character Don Draper from the AMC television series Mad Men: “You’re happy because you’re successful; for now. But what is happiness? It’s a moment before you need more happiness.”
But God isn’t interested in our happiness as much as God is interested in our goodness and well-being. It isn’t the things we HAVE, but who we ARE that interests the Lord. Are we generous? Are we compassionate? Are we peacemakers? Are we falling ever more in love with God that we might share his heart of love for the world?
This is why we need Jesus. Jesus frees us from the ravenous grip of wants and becomes our good shepherd who provides what we most deeply need. Then, at Christmastime and throughout the year, we can offer others the gift of our presence, filled with godly peace, joy, hope, and love. God gives these to us in Jesus so that we might give others what they truly need.
Have a lovely Christmas, dear friends! And remember: the best gift is Jesus, so that our gift to the world may be God’s magnificent love flowing through us to ALL people. Amen!