Wednesday, December 6, 2017

"Christmas Presents"



“Christmas Presents”

 Around the second week in December is the busiest time for shopping for Christmas presents, either on line or battling crowds in the brick and mortar stores. The question of what to buy for whom looms over us. Then when we run out of ideas we go for a gift card by default.

Christmas presents come in all shapes, sizes and cost. But is the main thing the value or the thought?

Probably a year or so after Jesus’ birth the Magi arrived in Jerusalem with the question, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). When the guiding star stopped where Jesus was they worshipped Him and brought extraordinary gifts of gold, incense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). As men of considerable means they honored Him appropriately. But what of those whose resources are limited? Shortly before His death Jesus was in the temple watching as the rich brought large donations to the treasury. Then a poor widow presented a “tiny” offering which prompted Him to put things into proper perspective by saying, “…This poor widow has put in more than all the others.” (Luke 21:3). Paul later cited the example of the churches in Macedonia who “Out of…their extreme poverty…gave…beyond their ability.” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). When it’s one’s desire to honor God He has the power to take little and make it much (remember the boy’s lunch which Jesus used to feed 10,000+ hungry people in John 6).

In 1941 American composer and music teacher Katherine Davis wrote a Christmas song called “The Little Drummer Boy” which soon became a standard during the Advent season. Without the “Pa rum pum pum pums” it says:
 
  “Come, they told me, A new born King to see.
   Our finest gifts we bring To lay before the King
   So we honor Him When we come.
   Little baby, I am a poor boy too
   I have no gift to bring That’s fit to give our King
   Shall I play for you On my drum?
   Mary nodded, The ox and lamb kept time.
   I played my drum for Him, I played my best for Him.
   Then He smiled at me.”
 
When we give Jesus the best we can, be it playing a drum, providing a meal for a needy family, making a visit to a lonely senior citizen or underwriting a major ministry project, we are blest. What can I give Him on His birthday in 2017 to make Him smile?
Grace and Blessings!
Jim McMillan
 
 

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