It Would Have Been Enough

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”—Luke 11:13

The Jewish song, Dayenu, which is traditionally sung during Passover, repeats one phrase over a dozen times, “It would have been enough …” as it describes expression after expression of God’s love and goodness to Israel during the Exodus journey. Throughout history, the Heavenly Father has expressed His love to His people time and again. Of course, the greatest gift ever given was the God/Man, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate each year during this time.

Parental love is often on full display during the Christmas season as many parents overextend themselves financially, not because they are economically frivolous, but they feel so compelled to express their love to their children through giving. After all, many of them can recall with absolute clarity gifts they received when they were but seven or eight years old. Their little child momentarily resurrects through increasing shades of gray as they reflect with fondness and with joy on the excitement they felt when the last remnant of wrapping paper fell to the ground, revealing the precious contents within. They want their children to have similar experiences and memories.

This extravagant display of earthly love is but a mere imitation of the excessive Heavenly Love. It would have been enough if God the Father had given us salvation through Christ and stopped there. We could have nothing but everlasting gratitude for something so marvelous and so underserved. He, however, had something even more wonderful in mind as He gave us a second gift … the gift of the Holy Spirit. This means that we literally have the power of God within us to love God, love others, and be increasingly conformed to His image as the Spirit takes out our heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh, enabling us to walk in the ways of Christ. (Ez. 36)

As Christian, we don’t have to parent alone or by our own power. Instead, the Holy Spirit is there to guide us by giving insight into our children’s lives and instructing us on how we should lead them. (John 14:26) While we cannot change our children’s hearts, He can, just as He has changed the hearts of mighty kings throughout history. (Proverbs 21:1)

If we as earthly parents, want to give good gifts to our children, how much more does the Heavenly Father want to give the Holy Spirit to us this Christmas season. Like little children who scan the internet or look at toy shelves in malls, all we need to do is ask. Ask weekly at church. Ask daily at home. Every time we feel overwhelmed or underpowered, all we need to do is ask.

While Jesus alone would have been enough, God wants us to have so much more. Unlike us, He has no limit on His credit line. May the Holy Spirit reveal to each of us this Christmas season the height, depth, and breadth of His love that passes all understanding.

The ICHE family wishes each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Holy Spirit filled New Year.