When I was little, I could hardly wait for the Wish Book to arrive. The Sears Christmas catalog would arrive and my brother, sister and I would spend hours pouring over the pictures of treasures we thought we couldn’t live without. Christmas morning was often a bit of a disappointment when I opened packages containing socks, pajamas, or some other practical necessity. I didn’t understand the vast difference between needs and wants, and I certainly had no clue about what my parents went through to provide for us kids.
In our scripture for today, Paul tells the young Corinthian church that God has provided every spiritual gift they need as they wait for Christ’s return. This thought shouldn’t have been new to them. David wrote of it in the great Shepherd Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything that I need.” (see Psalm 23) Peter picks up the same thought when he writes: “As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.” (2 Peter 1:3)
What would happen this Advent season, if every time someone asked us what we wanted for Christmas, or every time we begin dwelling on our wish list, we reminded ourselves that we have everything we need. Say it, “I have everything I need.” Five words. One sentence. It could change the course of our Advent journey.
Prayer: Thank you god for your gifts and provisions for my life. Help me to live as one who has everything I need. Amen.
Pot of Manna 