What Do You Want?

TITLE: What Do You Want?
DATE: December 23, 2019
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Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

TEXT: Mark 11:24  -(ESV - 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received[a] it, and it will be yours.

What do you want for Christmas? Well...., some people don't get what they want.

Listen to this: "Dear Santa Claus, last year I asked for a bike. Instead you brought me a sister. Maybe some other boy wanted a sister and got my bike. We have kept the sister, but I would still like a bike." That was just one of the estimated 200,000 letters and cards dropped into the post office letter boxes last year, addressed to Santa at Toyland, North Pole, Alaska, Reindeer Land and various other places. Thousands more are received by "Santas" in department stores up and down the country.

 Some of them are the funniest letters ever written - full of the innocent and unintentional humor children create. Almost all of them tell what those children want for Christmas.

Take for example, this gem: "Dear Santa, since last year I have changed bedrooms. My grandma and her cat are in my old room now. Don't leave my presents there because the cat will play with them. Maybe grandma, too."

What do you want for Christmas? There was the understanding child who wrote: "Santa, You don't have to give me anything for Christmas; just leave me something for the other days." There is the concerned child: "Santa, please do not come down the chimney. We have a gas fireplace."

According to some letters, Santa makes a lot of mistakes at Christmas. One summarizes: "I did not get what I wanted last time. My name is Penny and I am still living in the same house. There is a big number "40" on the door. Santa, let's get it straight" And a young child named Morris said simply, "Dear Santa Claus, I want one of everything you've got."

Dear Santa, me and my brother are not very happy this Christmas. Our daddy left home in the summer and has not sent any money. Plus my mom is sick and can't get out to work much. We don't have a tree this year and I am afraid we won't have any presents at all. Will you please send just a small box of candy to my brother David to make him feel good? Thank you. From your friend, Sammy."

What do adults want? Some cards I've received look back to the sedate and calm days of yesteryears showing snow swept landscapes and the whole family out for a sleigh ride. For some people those times were better, but they don't know how to turn back the clock. At Christmas the world hopes that we might stumble across a secret formula to make us happy. It's a great idea, but it just doesn't happen. The world can't give us what we really need.

Only God can do that. Only God can give us what we need. That's why the words of the angel are important. "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord." I know you are well aware of those words. But let's make them real. What do you really want?

You want love. Then look in the manger and see God's love. His is a love that sacrifices. It is a love that gives its best. It is a love that cannot be turned away by something you do wrong. It is not destroyed because you are less than perfect. His is a love that keeps coming back again and again. It is a love that waits for you to talk, that wants to hear no matter what you say. It is a love which is yours for as long as you live.

What else do you want? I know. You want security.. Look in the manger. Jesus had a secure position in heaven. Yet He gave it up to be Your Savior, so that all who follow Him might be secure. Don't  you feel it? Don't you feel Him reaching out to you. He wants you to be secure. That's why He says, "Cast your troubles on me. I care for you." He wants you to be secure.

That's why He says, "Come unto me all that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Do you want security? He, the newborn Savior provides eternal security as He promises that all who believe on Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

THE PRAYER: Lord  I give thanks that You have given me all I need in Jesus. May my life be a proof of my appreciation for my salvation. In the Savior’s holy Name I pray it. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html