A Gift Worth Receiving
Every Christmas we have a tradition of taking turns opening our gifts. My children eagerly wait to unwrap their gifts, and at times they sneak peeks! They try to take an interest in the gifts others are opening. All along they are secretly poking holes in the wrapping, bending and shaking the mysterious packages, attempting to guess what lies beneath the paper. What could it be? Then finally it is their turn and the wrapping is torn to shreds as they satisfy their curiosity.
There is something especially delightful in that gift that tells you "I know you. I see you, and this is just right for you." I happen to be a terrible gift giver. I shop. I look, but I don't seem to find. I become discouraged in my search, hoping to find something extra special and with lots of "wow factor." I have a friend who is a great gift giver. She seems to find the perfect little trinkets that just fit the occasion and the individual. Her gifts are timely, personal, and uniquely special.
That's how God is. He gives us exactly what we need. Timely, personal, and uniquely special. He knows us through and through (warts and all) even better than we know ourselves! He knows our inner thoughts, our fears, our hopes, our hang ups. None of it phases Him and none of it is too much. Instead of turning away in disappointment or disgust, He opens His arms and continues on giving. It is pricey ... but He has already paid!
When we feel insignificant or purposeless, He calls us treasure, masterpiece, (Deut. 26:18; Eph. 2:8-10; 2Cor. 6:18). When we fail, He gives us more and more grace to remind us our failings do not take away from anything He has given, nor does it damage His love for us (Romans 8:35; 2Cor. 12:9). We are lavished with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1). When we wander away, He pursues and/or He waits ready to welcome us home to His embrace (Lk.15). He knows when we need kindness to bring us home (Romans 2:4). He knows when we need discipline for correction and/or growth (Hebrews 12:6-11). He knows our every need. He is the God who sees you and me (Genesis 16:13).
Not only does He give us what we need, He is a gift that keeps on giving. A gift that we are invited to unwrap to discover more to unwrap again. He is a gift we must learn to receive over again and again. His grace. His acceptance. His hope. His power. His strength. His heart. His vision. How are we at receiving such a gift? How are we at unwrapping? Do we hold a gift and forget to explore and unwrap? Do we set Him aside for later? Do we pick up lesser gifts and convince ourselves they just might be better? Do we resist receiving out of fear there may be strings? Do we resist receiving because we are too busy grasping at other things? Performing? Achieving?
Above all else, it isn't what we get from Him, but how much more He gives of Himself to us. Daily. He longs to lavish us with love. He waits for us to receive again and again. He's ready (He didn't need us to drop hints or text Him) but maybe it is us who need a hint?
I want to be a better receiver. I want to delight in Him more, to anticipate something fresh and new about Him under the wrapper. I long to peek and anticipate His mystery. I long to be surprised again and again by who He is and how He knows me and loves me. He is the gift that keeps on giving, and He is the gift more than worth re-gifting!
