By the end of this week, I’m hoping praying that our gifts will be mostly purchased/made, wrapped, and displayed in the currently empty space under our tree. (I’m so thankful for a pretty tree skirt, btw, – we’ve had plenty of time to enjoy it this year!) The Lord has provided the gifts we are giving this season in the most tender of ways, and I’m so much looking forward to sharing what The Lord has provided and we have prepared.
For months, I’ve been “listening” around, trying to find out what the people in my home/family would most love to receive. My gift lists have been made and are getting marked off by the day. But there is one Name that didn’t make it on my list until a few days ago. I was preparing my Sunday School lesson, studying about the Wise Men and what they brought to Jesus. I’m sure we’ve all heard about the three gifts they brought and what they meant in Biblical times. I’ve seen many wonderful gift-giving ideas based upon these three gifts. In years past, we have given to others, to missions, to causes in Jesus’ Name for Christmas. But the other day, when I was studying and praying through the Scriptures, The Lord gave me something new, precious, and challenging.
As if I could audibly hear His voice, He asked me “Will you bring me these same gifts?”
Then The Lord revealed to me what He would most love to receive from me this year. I have a feeling that He’d love this to be His birthday gifts from each one of us. I wonder if He’ll speak to you in the same way~
“When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy. And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to Him gifts – gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11 (Amp)
Gold – This was a standard gift to a king. It represented kingship and power.
Frankincense – This was a special insense used for worship.
Myrrh – This was used to embalm bodies when people died.
(Neither frankinsense nor myrrh were typical gifts to give a baby – even a baby king.)
As I prayed through these gifts, asking how I could give these specific riches from my own “treasure bag”, The Lord gave me this answer:
Like gold is the standard other monitary values are based upon, Obedience and Submission are the standards that our lives in Christ are to be based upon. Our lives are to be willfully and joyfully marked by these traits. Obedience and Submission are more valuable and everlasting than gold.
Frankincense – This is my worship, praise, prayers, and passionate desire for personal intimate fellowship with God my King and Father and Creator, Jesus Christ my Savior and Friend and Lover, and The Holy Spirit my Counselor and Convictor and Teacher.
The gift of praise, worship, gratitude, and desire for The Lord are a sweet aroma to Him, and in living this way, we become the sweet aroma of Christ to others who come into contact with our lives (2 Cor. 2:14-15).
Praise, worship, gratitude, and intimacy with Jesus is especially a gift to Him when life isn’t going as we would like it. When times are hard, and we wonder why God is allowing certain things to cross our lives, yet we choose to praise, worship, thank, and walk with Him… This is the sacrificial gift that reveals our true hearts and that blesses His heart.
Myrrh – This is the dying of self in our physical bodies, so that the Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit can embalm us, stiffen us to the sway of this world, and preserve us to belong totally to our God and King.
For me, this is probably the hardest gift to give. I don’t mind saying I “want” to give this gift to Jesus, but actually doing it will be a minute by minute battle. I will give this gift to Jesus as I choose to act and react in ways that are pleasing to Him instead of gratifying to me. It will be a gift I give in every choice that I make – in every area of my life – alone, with God, with my family, at home, in public… and it will span the physical and emotional and spiritual.
What are you giving to Jesus for His birthday this year? Is He on your list yet? If you ask Him, He will show you what He would love to have from you ~ His precious, beloved, valued, beautiful child.
With prayers for each of you dear readers as you prepare your hearts and homes for Christmas~
Jen, what a beautiful reminder. It's super easy to get caught up in the busyness that this season brings. To focus on all the things that need to be done. I love your example of quietly coming before the Lord. And I'm thankful for what He's revealed to you ~ and that you've shared with us. What beautiful gifts for us to give our Savior.
Thank you for sharing these thoughts Jennifer. This truly is the desire of my heart as well. I agree that the gift of dying to self is the most difficult. It is easy to say but difficult to do in the moment by moment choices of the day!