Reeves: Like children in Christmas anticipation!

I love Christmas music: “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, and folks dressed up like Eskimos ….”

Danny ReevesAs I look back, I remember being one of those “tiny tots” who couldn’t wait to see what Santa had brought me. My little heart was so excited, I could barely sleep.

Decades later, I am older and wiser, and I realize Christmas is so much more than I understood as a child, but I’m still very fond of the music. One of the verses from “The Christmas Song” says, “Every mother’s child is going to spy to see if reindeer really know how to fly.” The song lyrics bear witness with so many today, because children are told the story of Santa Claus and his flying reindeer multiple times during the holidays. It builds their expectation.

Just imagine

But imagine what it must have been like hundreds of years ago, when every mother’s child was told a story that carried even more anticipation. Instead of “’Twas the night before Christmas,” parents would sit their children down around the fire and read to them from the Book of Isaiah: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Children were told about the coming Messiah, their Deliverer. However, year after year, there was no Messiah. The people still watched and waited for him, but most likely, it was hard to keep the faith day after day, only to wake up to—nothing!

So, it’s no wonder the shepherds were surprised when a multitude of angels appeared to them out of the blue one night. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men!'”

Heavenly perspective

When we read this story, we often only envision it from a human perspective. But heaven also had been in great anticipation of God fulfilling his promise. Patiently, they, too, had waited—and prepared.

I almost can picture the excitement in heaven as word got out that God was sending a messenger to tell the people their Messiah had come. They had anticipated this day for centuries! I imagine one angel asked if he could tag along to see; then another angel asked; then another; and another. Who knows if God didn’t just tell them, “Anyone who wants to go may go!” Heaven must have emptied! Their anticipation was so great, not one of them wanted to miss this event! Oh, if only Earth had known what was coming!

Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow would’ve found it hard to sleep that night. They’d know that Jesus was on his way. In fact, I expect every mother’s child probably would have spied to see if angels really knew how to fly!

Childlike anticipation

With great anticipation, children still long for Christmas Day to find out what gifts they’ve received. As Texas Baptists, that’s how we should be—like children in anticipation!

This season, and every day for that matter, we should be as excited about Jesus as the angels were! Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Danny Reeves is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and pastor of First Baptist Church in Corsicana.