“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem . . . there came wise men from the east. . . . And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh ” (Matthew 2: 1, 11).
On the day before Christmas a father baby sat his four children. To him baby-sitting mean reading the paper while his children cluttered up the house. He was in his study reading the Christmas ads when a tap on the door brought an invitation to see a play. He followed his 10 year old into the living room.
At the foot of the piano stool a lighted flashlight wrapped in swaddling clothes lay in a shoe box. The father recognized Joseph, who, dressed in his bathrobe and carrying a mop handle, took his place with Mary by the shoe box. Next his smallest daughter came in at a full run. She had pillowcases draped over both her arms. Spreading them Wide, she announced, “l am an angel.”
Then little Ann entered. The father knew she was a Wise man, for she moved in her mother’s high heels as though she were riding a camel. On a pillow she carried three items. Undoubtedly they represented gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Undulating majestically across the room, she bowed to the flashlight and then to Mary, to Joseph, to the angel, and last to her father. Then she said, “I’m all three Wise Men. I bring gold, circumstance, and mud.” And that was the play.
Let us tody bring our offering to Jesus-our love, Our faith, our obedience. Not gold, circumstance, and mud, but a yielding heart. During this season the greatest gift we can present Jesus is ourselves. No matter how insignificant our lives, it’s the pure intention and the act of faith that please Him.
But greater than any gift that we can bring to God is the one He has presented to us-His righteous life and His death for our sins. In His sight we are exceedingly valuable. In fact, by giving us His righteousness, He makes us “more Precious than fine gold” (Isa. 13:12). He made this gift when He left the matchless splendor of heaven and was born that day in Bethlehem. So let us bow down on this eve of Christmas and worship Him!
Daniel R. Guild,
The Best News Ever, Dec 24.
