Gift of Holy Expectancy

Have you ever really looked forward to receiving a gift?  Maybe this question takes you back to a Christmas morning years ago, or reminds you of the look of children just as they are handed a wrapped present with their name on it.  It's so exciting to receive a glimpse of the unknown, such as holding a present, but not knowing exactly what is inside. 

The prophet Isaiah must have had this kind of moment when he recieved the word from God, that is recorded in Isaiah 9:6-7, which says:
⁶ For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace
   there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
   and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
   with justice and righteousness
   from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
   will accomplish this.  

Isaiah didn't know every detail of what he was prophesying, yet he knew that God was offering him the distinct honor of presenting the children of Israel a beautifully wrapped gift.  This gift became one of the many wrapped gifts given to the Israelites during a long season of God's building excitement and anticipation of the Greatest Gift that ever was or will ever be.  Even though we would be the recipients of the gift, called the Prince of Peace, the Giver of this life-changing Gift was in eager anticipation.

Then, it happened.  Immanuel, God with us, was born in a stable.  This beautiful baby boy grew up to be a man who worked hard, studied the scriptures diligently, and whose ministry still continues today.  As the Gift was being crucified for the sins of all people, a new wave of anticipation arose.  This was the excitement and anticipation within the heart of Jesus as the Spirit of God brought to mind all of those that would come to know Him, and ultimately, bring glory to the Heavenly Father.

Imagine again, if you will, being handed an ornately pampered gift, in which a tag has your name written on it.  Upon taking this wrapped delight into your hands, something happens within you.  You are overtaken by an indescribable awareness of a Heavelenly Caregiver that desires your life to not only receive this gift from Him, but to be a gift to others.  You have a moment, an encounter, if you will, where you accept His presence in your heart and vow that your life will never be the same again.  This due to the awareness and commitment that your life is no longer yours, it's His.

You're so overcome by what has just happened upon recieving this Gift, that you almost forget to open it.  Yet, you slowly and carefully take off the beautiful wrapping paper and let it drift to the floor.  Your heart beats quickly as you begin to lift the lid off of the newly exposed box.  At this moment of glorious anticipation, you feel every sense and fiber of your being screaming out for more of the Giver of this amazing Gift.  As an intoxication falls over you, you lift off this lid, as to be fully exposed to the contents therein.  This is when your heart explodes with a sensation of warmth that travels like honey through your body.  You've not only received the promises of God, you've received the Spirit of God, who now resides within you, in an interactive way, molding you daily in to the likeness of Jesus, bringing glory to the Father.

There is no Gift greater than that of Jesus.   There is no Giver more gracious than God, the Father, the ultimate Caregiver.  There is no moment like now, to receive Him into your heart and life.  There is no experience more real, than to be filled with His Holy Spirit, so that you can be the gift to others, bringing them to the Giver, the Father of Lights.  Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. 

Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.  Seek Him, while He may be found.  Call upon the name of the Lord.