Key Passage: Matthew 7:7-11
Topic: God's Love; Events/Holidays
"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11, ESV)
Every year, when Christmas rolls around each year, we become preoccupied with...gifts! Maybe you dread wandering the malls searching for the perfect present. Perhaps you enjoy and even thrive in the adventure of it all.
Now the whole reason we give gifts is to express love and appreciation for another person. It'd be crazy to go out and buy something awful to give to your mom, just to make her cry. That just doesn't make sense.
And so, on or around December 25th, people exchange gifts--big and small--hoping to see reactions of surprise and happiness. It's unlikely that you'll hear, "You know, I don't really feel like giving you your gift today. You don't really deserve it."
We don't think like that in our giving, so why do we think God doesn't care about our desires? And why do we often think He's out to get us, to make us miserable?
Like any gift-giver, it thrills God to give. He is very much in tune to our hearts, our dreams, our wants and needs. So ask.
If God sees that what you desire is the best thing for you, He may give it. But there are times He holds back good things because it's not the best thing. This is one of His most loving acts--withholding good when it might be harmful. You can be confident that God gives generously to you, with your uniqueness in mind.
If you think get excited thinking of the gifts you'll give, remember that God's joy in giving far exceeds anything you'll see on earth.