gifts

Way More Than They Bargained For

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 
And going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 ESV

I sometimes try to imagine what the wise men were thinking when they began their journey. These men were a mystery. Some commentators have called them astrologers, some magicians, and still others, some sort of court advisors. The only definite thing we know is that they came from the East of Israel, and their importance was not about their origin, but in their destination. Like everyone since, who has come seeking for Jesus, they had much to learn about the one whom they were seeking along their journey. So, let’s rewind the clock to the beginning of their odyssey. That first day, as they packed not only provisions for themselves, but also their treasures, I wonder if they thought: “Wow these cost me so much, I hope that king we are bringing them to is grateful!”

Then, as they traveled the long the miles, they may have worried about highway robbers, caravan raiders and or even the local thieves at their stops along the way. When they finally arrived in Jerusalem, they were hungry, exhausted, and ready to get their trek over with. But on consulting with the counselors of Herod’s court they discovered that they need to pack their things back up for one more night and head off to a village a few miles from there. I wonder again what was going through their minds as their camels feet clopped up the narrow lanes of Bethlehem. No fine buildings lined the way, and the sights and smells of this rural village certainly didn’t correspond to the value of the treasures in their saddlebags. Nonetheless, the miraculous star continued to guide them, until as the Bible says it, “Came to rest over the place where the child was.” God does not give us all the details of that day, but He tells us that, “When they saw the child…they fell down and worshiped Him.” In that holy moment, their treasures were all forgotten. This child was like no other they had ever met before. His feet were not clad with jewel encrusted sandals. He was not dressed in a fine purple robe, and the wooden stool he sat on was no royal throne. But there was something about Him greater than the miracle of the star and the mystery of the prophecy that predicted His birthplace. The glory of God in some wonderful way surrounded Jesus, and they fell down to worship Him! Then they remembered the gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and the value of what they had brought must have seemed far too small for Him. Their gifts, which they had thought so precious and had guarded with such care, suddenly seemed so small, as they poured them out at His feet. Jesus was way more than they had bargained for and more amazing than they had imagined, but just like the shepherds, they were welcomed and accepted into the house where Jesus was, because they had come to worship Him!

Every Day’s a Gift

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 1 Corinthians 1:26 ESV

This morning, I took a friend down for an appointment with her neurologist, because lately she has gotten lost on the way. Since the visit stretched on for an hour and a half, it gave me plenty of time to read, and to observe the many patients streaming in and out of the office. At one point my knees were getting stiff, so I went to the door and as I began to step outside, I noticed a man coming up the walk, trailed by an older gentleman, who I took to be his father. Since I was in the doorway anyway, I held it open, for them, and they both smiled and thanked me, but the older man also apologetically said, “Sorry, but I’m a little slow.” Once they entered, the receptionist had forms for them to fill out and the younger one, pulled out a bag full of prescription bottles and proceeded to make sure they were the same as those already printed out on the form. Then, apparently that being the only purpose of their visit, after they finished the paperwork, and answered a few questions, they turned and headed towards the door. Again, the older man trailed far behind, shuffling a bit with his feet. “Have a good day,” I said as they passed.

Not expecting anything else to be said, I turned back to reading the day’s news on my phone, but as the older man reached for the door, he turned, flashed a smile towards me and said,

Remember, every day’s a gift!”.

As they headed home, I realized that, while most of us had seen this man with sympathy, but few could see how aware he was of his position in life. Once he could have sprinted up the walk, flung open the door and been the one helping others to their seats. But now, hobbled by years, and a body that no longer cooperated with him he bravely was entering a new and challenging chapter in life. But in his weakness, he had recognized grace and saw that grace could help in his weakest state. He had come to recognize that God was over it all, and as firmly in control as He has ever been. He had seen that, life is a gift, and in fact, all that God had done was a gift, from creation to the Cross. God planted the garden, then gave it to man. God created Eve and presented her to Adam. God even feeds the birds he created and gave them songs to cheer us. He sent His only Son, then gave His most precious gift of all, the blood of Jesus Christ for our sins. And right now, God offers a much overlooked and amazing gift. God’s gift is for Muslims and Hindus, for pastors and paper boys, for children and especially for one man who can only shuffle up the walkway to his doctor’s office. He has found that while he can no longer work, play baseball, or even drive his own car, he can be grateful and give a smile to me and say, “Remember, every day’s a gift!”

An Unexpected Gift

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 
I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18 ESV

Last week our small group had a party to signal the beginning of a summer break. Each person brought a dish of some kind, and we even invited some of our neighbors to join us. What a wonderful time it was talking about our summer plans and upcoming travels. Towards the end of our get-together, one woman asked offhandedly if I might be interested in her old guitar which she was thinking of donating to the thrift store. I didn’t hold out much hope about her instrument, but I offered to take a look, expecting a worn-out guitar in a dilapidated case. How surprised I was when Ginger walked with carrying a professional case, which when I opened revealed a very nice Yamaha in near perfect condition. Though the strings were overdue for changing, when I put a new set on I was delighted with the tone. Unknown to our friend Ginger, I had prayed a while back for a new guitar but had forgotten about it. Excitedly I called and thanked her for such a beautiful and unexpected gift! That got me to thinking about other unexpected gifts we read about in the Bible. Of course, we must begin with God’s amazing and unexpected gift of salvation, but in today’s verse, the Apostle Paul also shows his gratitude for a gift from friends. He had neither asked for nor expected them to send him anything, but when they did, he wrote to say thank you. He says that gifts like these are a fragrant offering an acceptable sacrifice and they make the heart of God glad. Let’s be thankful for those rare moments when we receive such gifts, because in them we see a tiny reflection of the heart of Jesus who came as the most unexpected gift of all! I do hope you will enjoy one of the first songs I got to play with my new gift. Have a blessed Sunday everyone!