It is Christmas Eve and one of the traditions in my family is that we will gather together at my father-in-law’s home and open presents from aunts and uncles and all the cousins.  Following that we will return to our house and open one present each and wait until the next morning when there will be many more presents under the tree.  I don’t know what traditions you may have in your family but I think we can all appreciate the anticipation and joy that children have for Christmas morning and the promise of presents and toys.

I remember many years ago we were out shopping one evening at a mall when my daughter was only 3 and she saw Santa Claus.  She proclaimed, “It’s Santa!  He’ll give me candy!”  By age three she had this Christmas thing figured out!  She took off running toward him as fast as her little 3 year old legs would carry her.  She knew that she was headed toward someone who was going to give her something that she would enjoy, something good, something that would bless her.  It made me feel so good as a father to see the light of expectation and promise in her eyes.

I believe that God desires to see that same light of expectation and hope in all of His Children.  I truly believe that He wants to see that joy in all.  When you read the gospels and look at the passages surrounding the birth of Christ you will notice that word “ALL” plays an integral part in the story.  When the angel made the announcement of the birth of Christ to the shepherds in Luke 2:10 the angel said:

Luke 2:10  “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

I love the way God presents the birth announcement of His Son.  He came for all and He came for you!  The light of the world came all people…and He came for you!   He came for all people and He came for me!  He came for shepherds and wise men, He came for rich and poor.  He came for ALL because ALL need Him.  The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

He came for ALL because we ALL need His strength.  He says in Matthew 11:18 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.”

All of us need the gift of Christ.  All of us need what He has to offer.  All of us need what only He provides.  All of us need the light of expectation, the promise of hope and the eternal joy that only comes from Jesus Christ!

The other evening I was walking down the sidewalk with my 3 year old granddaughter Avery.  This is the first year that Avery really understands about Christmas.  She saw a manger scene.  She points and said, “That’s baby Jesus.”  I said, “Yes, it is.  He loves us and came to bless us ALL.”