Good things come in small packages

From 50 Days of Devotionals through the Chronological Harmony of the Gospels 

 Based on Luke 1:57–80; Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 2:1-20; Luke 2:21–39

“If I had known how fun grandkids were,” say umpteen number of grandparents, “I would have had them first!”

Well, nothing like playing the part of Zechariah that makes me want to do a character study on the father of John the Baptizer! And I can just imagine how elated he was to have a child after all of those years (no comment about how un-elated Elizabeth might have been about having a child at her age!).

But something about age and realizing what is really important in life makes me think that Zechariah was a great dad. After all, he and Elizabeth raised a child whom Jesus Christ said, “there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptizer.”

This past Christmas someone posted on Facebook the question, “What is your least favorite Christmas song?” and “Mary Did You Know?” made someone’s least liked list! Of course, Mary knew (Michael the angel and getting with child without ever “knowing a man” was of course some of her first clues!)

And yet, did they really know just how important John and Jesus would grow up to be? Did the shepherds really understand just who that was in the manger? Did Simeon understand that his eyes were seeing the hands who would give sight to the blind? God had promised him he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah and now there He was in his arms. Even though Anna was a prophetess, she surely could not fully comprehend that the eight-day old Christ child would be the redemption for whom the 84-year-old widow had been waiting.

Could Mary and Joseph and Zechariah and Elizabeth even imagine in their wildest dreams that we would be here, more than 2,000 years later, still talking about those precious little boys.

But walk down to the nursery sometime and please volunteer to serve there, and when you do, ask yourself, “Do you know who and what these little children are going to grow up to be?”

 What a pleasure it is to watch kids grow up in our church! Little Elizabeth Harlow came running up to me the other night at full speed, and I gathered her up in my arms, loving on her but missing my own little precious daughters who have now all grown up.

One last thought: Some children will indeed be a sword that will pierce our souls. How can we not do all that we can do to help make sure these children grow up to be saved and equipped for bringing the love of God for generations to come.

Good things can be found in little packages indeed and they are all bundled up down the hall in our nursery, in the children’s and youth wings of our church, and in our children and grandchildren, our nieces and nephews, in Good News Clubs at our schools and in our ministries like Compassion International. Virtually everywhere we look, we can see priceless presents in little packages for the future. 

Father in Heaven. Thank you that we can call you Father. Help us to be ever mindful of the precious cargo we hold in our hands, in our hearts, and in the halls of our churches and schools. Open our eyes to see the light in them that Simeon and Anna saw in Jesus. Amen.