On Christmas morning, I went upstairs to join my son, his wife, and my granddaughter Bella for a few minutes before they left the house to go to a brunch with my daughter-in-law’s family. The plan was that they would empty their stockings before they left, but would save the opening of gifts under the tree until they returned in the afternoon.
Bella joyfully drew out small gifts, one after another; getting more excited the deeper her arm disappeared down the stocking. She had candy, and hair accessories, and gift cards to her favorite places to eat. At one point she squealed, "This is the best morning ever!”
I’m glad she was so excited and grateful for what she had received, but the day held so much more for her. There were gifts at her Pappy’s house and gifts right back here at our house that afternoon. Not only that, but there would be another gift or two the next day when she and her parents were going to another family dinner. She had only scratched the surface of what she would receive this Christmas. She stopped short of realizing all that was about to come to her that day.
She was much like many of us are as Christians. We are excited and grateful for the amazing gift of salvation that was bought for us by the blood of Jesus, as we should be, but God never meant for us to just stop there. He has so much more prepared for us once we have joined His family and kingdom through being born again. We shouldn’t quit when we’re just getting started!
God is showing us gift after gift that is available to us after we take that first step. There are experiences and levels of understanding and depths of fellowship that we don’t even realize are waiting because we just open the stocking of salvation and declare that this is the best thing ever. Jesus is the best thing ever, but He’s just getting started. Look at what God says about this life that He gives us.
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
We are born again, but our transformation is not just a one-time thing. There’s so much more coming as we continue this walk with Him.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Eventually, this season, Bella’s gifts will stop coming. She will have received all that people have chosen to give her and she’ll settle into a life of enjoying the good things she has now, but with God, there is no end to what He is pouring out on the lives of His children. There is no end to His season of giving. It’s more than we could ever imagine.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
So as the world packs the Christmas decorations, throws away the used wrapping paper, and forsakes the holiday food for the new year’s diets, please remember to keep looking for and expecting the gifts and plans that God has for you. Be thankful for what He has already done, but don’t get comfortable there. There is always more!
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