The Wish List
The little boy held fast to the Christmas catalogue which had just arrived in the mail. Tempting the items were as he began circling his heart’s desires. The pages were not only gazed upon, but with pen in hand, rings were placed around some of that which he wanted. With each item circled, hope grew. It grew in the hope of not only receiving some of that which he saw, but of giving it away to those whom he loved.
As names were inserted to cover those close to his heart, he could be heard whispering, “And this one’s for …” I suppose that’s what giving is all about. When we are inspired out of love to give, it makes us want to pour out all we have within us, onto others. Sometimes that which we desire to pour out is received. Other times, it is not. I’ve heard it said that what makes Jesus the saddest is when those upon whom He wishes to lavish His love—choose not to receive it. Which would mean—rejection.
I paused to wonder just how the little boy would feel if he were to wrap up the circled items, only to hear from the receiver, “I don’t want that!” My guess is, his little heart would be broken.
I suppose you know by now where this is going. God sent His one and only Son as pure gift. Not only did He send Him for some, but for all. And you know well the rest of the story. “All did not receive Him” (John 1:11). The full scoop goes like this and is taken from John 1:9-12. “The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.”
Can you imagine God circling each one of us by name? I can almost hear His tender words as He speaks life. “I love you! And I love you! And you…” Not only does he know us by name, but exactly how He created us to be. Listen to Psalm 139:13. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
John 1:13 tells us about the best gift ever gifted as well as the best gift anyone could ever hope to receive. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten Son from the Father.”
Perhaps our hope lies not in figuring it all out, but in receiving that which was given. It might very well sound like the following, “Come, Lord Jesus, be my guest…” Allow Him to have and to hold—to heal and to form as He continues to call forth and call you His own. “I have called you by name. You are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). Amen.
