Gift Giving of Christmas

Christmas, a time of sharing, singing, and gift giving. This Christmas at church, our pastors are making it a priority to stress PRESENCE rather than PRESENTS. Notice the difference? It is the ‘c’, or may I say ‘see’ Jesus in us … in the season. That our gift giving be personal, ‘spend less, give more’ is their slogan. As a church family we are giving clean water, coats to the homeless, help start a church, send out and open an orphanage in Uganda. Oh we may not be able to dig a well, or go over seas on a long term mission trip, but what we have, what we are … we give.

ALL of us have ‘gifts’, God given gifts that He asks that we share with one another. Whether that be, the gift of ‘helps’ your heart overflows with servant hood. Or be it, the gift of ‘encouragement’, how many of us LOVE being on the receiving end of that gift. Perhaps, the gift of a listening ear, or providing an extra place at the dinner table, going without that HAVE to have, to give it to someone else. My gift is being a student of the Word. I dig, dust stuff off, polish it up a bit and share it with others. What is your gift? No gift is too small, or insignificant.

Often we read through the Christmas story and highlight the most spectacular parts, singing angels . “Fear Not” statements, the Star of Bethlehem, and yes the dingy manger. YET, there are some quiet and seem less significant items to be had in the excitement.

Consider if you would, the Magi as they prepare for their trek out to find the child to whom the Star belongs. DeDe’s imaginative possible scenario of events: They are packing, dividing up the supplies list, then they come to the gift inventory, gold is given to the first, then frankincense handed to another, ‘O yeah, the myrrh is last’. How would YOU like to be handed the myrrh, and picture yourself bowing low, head to the floor while you offer M-Y-R-R-H (said with an Eeyore deep tone) to the King of Kings! You may think “Dude, why do I have to carry the white elephant gift???” White elephant it is not, one among the triune gifts that are of great value.

AH, the gifts, gold, frankincense and MYRRH. Have we ever really thought WHAT is myrrh? I can assure us all that it was not a last minute addition, or a ‘re-gifting’ of an unwanted gift.

The divine significance of myrrh:

Exodus 30:22-23 Myrrh ~ an ingredient used in the anointing oil of the Tabernacle and the priests.

Luke 7:36-50 Myrrh ~ (myron) perfumed oil/ointment poured over Jesus’ feet.

John 19:39-40 Myrrh ~ used as one of the spices to prepare Jesus’ body for burial.

Picture now, the Christ child, perhaps two in age or younger, curly dark hair, possibly pudgy cheeks. At His feet, men of wisdom and honor, royal position now place gold, frankincense and MYRRH. The anointing oil of the TABERNACLE and THE Priest. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) The same perfumed oil poured on His feet as a grown man, that would one day be pierced. The oil added to the spices wrapped around His body following His death.

Myrrh, HOW PROPHETIC. A new appreciation for the gift.

May we too bow low, offer what we may think insignificant. Gifts given to Jesus and in Jesus name have GREAT value, regardless of how silly we may see it, or how small they may appear. An encouraged heart, a feed soul, a person no longer lonely. Christmas gift giving! God designed. How prophetic.