The Unopened Gift

Our Christmas play this year was titled "The Unopened Gift". It held elements of a typical Christmas play with your standard nativity story of course, but it also held so much more. Due to some scheduling conflicts I was asked to play the role of Andrew, the teenage son of the family at the center of the story arc. Now, the funny part I will get to later, but first let me explain the play.
The play starts like a lot do in today's world. A family enters their living room after the Christmas meal and begin talking about said meal. After some chat about that,  one of the little girls asks if it is time t read the Nativity story. She gives her Dad the Bible and he turns to Luke 2 and begins reading. Throughout the entire story, each scene of the nativity is pantomimed on the other side of stage as the father is reading, and after the first bit, carolers appear outside the window of the family's home as they are reading the story of the nativity.

 As all of this is happening there are things spoken by Timmy, Suzy, Amy, Mom, and Dad of course, but nothing from Andrew. After reading through to the exit of the sheperds the Father stops and gets ready to have the family sing, but one of the little girl's of course asks about the "Wisemen", so the father turns to Matthew and recounts that piece of the story as well.

Finally, after singing "Joy To The World", its time for the ceremonial Gift Exchange. The kids are giving each other presents and giving presents to their parents, but when it's my character, Andrew's turn to give a gift, he gives one to his Mom, and it is a Very special gift, but she just shrugs it off and tells him she will open it later. The gift exchange continues and Andrew again asks if his mother will open the gift. After a similar reply Andrew is visibly disappointed.

The play culminates in Andrew asking why his mother won't open the gift. She replies with a question of her own, "Why do you want me to open it?" Of course Andrew explains that he loves his mother and made the gift very special. Her retort is, "Well then I guess you know how we feel about you then?" Andrew is taken aback and puzzled by this. Andrews parents then explain that since he has put off accepting the gift of God's Salvation through Jesus Christ, he has essentially done the same thing, and his parents are saddened by this.

Of course, from seeing this comparison drawn Andrew comes to pray and accept Christ as his savior. Now, the funny part comes in. This is the second year in a row I have been placed in the "come to Jesus" part of our Christmas program. I keep wondering, are these people telling me something? Haha, but really, each time it has been a blessing. Putting myself in the frme of mind of someone that has not accepted Christ, I always try to look at the "reasons" why someone decides that salvation isn't "their bag", if you will. Everytime, I find myself strengthening my faith in God.

Why? Well, because each time, as I begin examining what may be someones "reason" or "excuse" I always end up finding one of my own "reasons" or "excuses" and always end up opening my own "Unopened Gift". So the question here is, of course, what unopened gifts are sitting around in your faith life? Find them, and open them. You never know how great something is until you apply it. Paul said it well in Ephesians 2: 8 - 9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast