Remember when you were five years old? The Lion King had just made it to theathers, Furby’s haunted your dreams, or everyone but you had a Nano Baby to watch over; whatever the fad, it was thrown in your face multiple times a day – and you wanted it. Why did you want it? Because we are constantly told that in order to have any identity at all you must own such-and-such product. This is why we are all hoarders my friends.
Christmas time for children is the most vulnerable time of year. Not only do they have all the pressure to keep up with trends, toys, and schoolmates but we ask them daily what they want to be given of all these cool things. Santa can bring you anything you ask for, right? Wrong, because Santa’s got a budget; but do kids know who can really give them anything they ask for?
Yesterday my team and I shared the gospel to 30 beautiful Thai children. Immediately following the lesson of how God can take your dirty water and make it clean again (sin in your life) we asked who wanted to let Jesus into their hearts; 25 little arms shot up in the air confidently, urgently, and excitedly. They didn’t need extra explaining or convincing – they knew what they wanted. This is the childlike faith everyone constantly talks about but never sees. One child even said he has already done so but wanted to go again!
The reason advertisements are directed at children so urgently and so frequently is because of their childlike faith; because they immediately want something if you tell them the benefit of it. As we get older we are still surrounded by ads but not only do we require more convincing about the benefits we tend to focus more on the negative affects. We lose our childlike faith and gain pride. “It’s cool, but what can it do for me?” is what our mentality has changed to when shouldn’t we be asking, “what can I do for Him?”
God will give us anything we ask if we just believe in Him; not enough children in the world are told this. We should all be jumping up and down with excitement wanting to know God like the Thai children were yesterday. God is so cool! Christ is the best, most beneficial Christmas gift and we didn’t even have to ask for him. Imagine if your Christmas list was a want for joy, peace, influence, or a heart like Jesus; not POGS, new jelly shoes, or Pokemon cards.
My Christmas wish this year is that we all gain our childlike faith back with urgency and excitement. I thank God for the lesson that the Thai children showed me and for giving me a heart for those who haven’t ever heard of Jesus.
What do you want for Christmas this year?
-C
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:7
