My dad would have his movie camera ready to roll on Christmas morning as my nine brothers and sisters would run into the living room on cue to see what Santa Clause had delivered.  It’s been awhile since I have watched those movies – some were black and white and some were in color (starting to age myself), but the common theme in all was the excitement and the awesomeness of the experience. Do you recall that feeling as well?  How are parents loved us – they would do anything for us!

And so we should not be like cringing, fearful slaves, but we should behave like God’s very own children, adopted into the bosom of his family, and calling to him, “Father, Father.”  For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts, and tells us that we really are God’s children.  And since we are his children, we will share his treasures – for all God gives to his Son Jesus is now ours too.  But if we are to share in his glory, we must also share his suffering.  Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.
Romans 8:15-18

We are His children. We’ve been instructed to call out to him when we need him – after a bad dream, after a fall, when we feel so bad that we can’t look Him in the eye, or when we are celebrating a great victory – that is when we call out His name – Father, Abba, Daddy!

So on this Chrismas day, let us give thanks to our Father, for adopting us fully into His family, for pulling us in tightly to Him and caring so much that He sent His Son to save us.  We pray for all our family and friends that they recognize Him as their Father, too.  Lord, start the cameras rolling, we are running to receive Your gifts!