“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the
government will be upon His shoulder.” (Isaiah 9:6a)
God is the great giver a gifts. During this season we give gifts to one another as an expression of our love. Love gives. We are told that God so loved the world that He gave. It is a God-like characteristic to give. I’m a father of four children, and 11 grandchildren. I have had many opportunities to observe this reality of love in action. Children are absolutely internally wired to give out of a pure expression of love. And it doesn’t matter what they give to you. A color crayon picture. A bright yellow flower picked from the front yard, that only you know is a dandelion. Or if there’s nothing material to hand you, they will simply throw their tiny arms around your neck and squeeze saying those three words that we all along to hear “I love you.”
We are told in Isaiah 9:6 that the great gift God has given to us is a child. And then more descriptively—a Son. And not just any child, but His very own son. The next thing that we are told is that this Child leads to a government. We don’t typically associate a child with government. But that’s the kind of gift God has given us. Jesus said if anyone comes into the kingdom you must become a child.
“But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Mark 10:14-15)
There is something about the simplicity of love, and allowing it to govern our hearts, thoughts, words, and actions that is at very epicenter of what the government of God is all about.
This year let us ponder the greatest gift of all God has given to us, and seek to express the greatness of that gift to others. Let us remember that it is not how grandiose the gift is that really matters, but that we simply give the pure childlike gift of our love to one another. The giving of your time. A kind word spoken, a simple acknowledgement of the value of that person to you. A note telling them how much you really do love them. Or maybe even a just color crayon drawing.
Let us take the time to go beyond the external things that we might exchange, and give something that comes from the heart. For that is the thing that will be remembered and valued the most. And that is the thing that truly matter to them in the end.
Merry Christmas!
Jim Moore
