The Real Wish Book
First Published December 7, 2011
Do you remember the giant Sears Wish Book Christmas Gift catalog? The first issue of this retail holiday staple came out in 1933. For 60 years customers eagerly awaited the annual tome full of color photos of items especially advertised for gift giving. When I was young the catalog was delivered via post around the first week of November.
My husband says that in his youth the catalog got dog-eared fast and that his brother learned to read from it. Twenty years later, we would look for the mailman to deliver a postcard, which we took to the nearest Sears store and redeemed it for the catalog. Today, another twenty years later, we simply browse the special e-catalog edition using the Internet.
Wanting things is a real human characteristic. The issue is that bringing your wish list to a wish book containing more things than one could normally use in a lifetime appeals to our greed rather than our need. Or at the very least, we can see what we don’t have compared to somebody else. All of this can lead to jealousy, anger, and spite. Instead, we have the ability and privilege of asking for anything of God through prayer.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
***
With the realization that in Christ our sin debt has been paid in full, we may bring our wish list directly to God. He will provide us with everything through his plan of salvation. Who needs a wish book, when we have access to the author of the Good Book!?
***
But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
***
In this season of giving gifts, Lord, we are so tempted to fill up our wish list from a wish book. Help me freely present all my desires to you. I confess your Lordship through your Son, acknowledge His death and resurrection as the redemption for my sins, and ask for things based upon your will for my life. Praise your name! Amen.
Copyright 2011, Karen Vaughn
Do you remember the giant Sears Wish Book Christmas Gift catalog? The first issue of this retail holiday staple came out in 1933. For 60 years customers eagerly awaited the annual tome full of color photos of items especially advertised for gift giving. When I was young the catalog was delivered via post around the first week of November.
My husband says that in his youth the catalog got dog-eared fast and that his brother learned to read from it. Twenty years later, we would look for the mailman to deliver a postcard, which we took to the nearest Sears store and redeemed it for the catalog. Today, another twenty years later, we simply browse the special e-catalog edition using the Internet.
Wanting things is a real human characteristic. The issue is that bringing your wish list to a wish book containing more things than one could normally use in a lifetime appeals to our greed rather than our need. Or at the very least, we can see what we don’t have compared to somebody else. All of this can lead to jealousy, anger, and spite. Instead, we have the ability and privilege of asking for anything of God through prayer.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
***
With the realization that in Christ our sin debt has been paid in full, we may bring our wish list directly to God. He will provide us with everything through his plan of salvation. Who needs a wish book, when we have access to the author of the Good Book!?
***
But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
***
In this season of giving gifts, Lord, we are so tempted to fill up our wish list from a wish book. Help me freely present all my desires to you. I confess your Lordship through your Son, acknowledge His death and resurrection as the redemption for my sins, and ask for things based upon your will for my life. Praise your name! Amen.
Copyright 2011, Karen Vaughn
posted by Karen Vaughn | 8:30 AM
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