"Christmas Presents"
“Christmas Presents”
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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