I’m basically a pretty easy guy to buy for. Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Walmart, K-mart….it’s all good. No caviar or lobster taste on McDonald’s budget here. Unless, of course, I were to get a red & green plaid tie with pink polka dots… I then might reconsider.
While I appreciate most every gift given, I also want to give something that is a blessing to others. I resort to the gift card, occasionally, when others are extremely difficult to buy for, or for the person ‘who has everything.’ Then they can buy themselves something to put ‘everything’ in!
I’ve been given some wonderful gifts through the years, but hopefully I’ve shared some special gifts with others. Every year I ask God to show me a fresh take or look at the timeless story of Christmas. I’ve heard it 40+ years now! These were real people in a very real difficult situation.
This year it was about the stable & the first ones to look on the Christ-Child. In reading a wonderful devotion the other day from writer Max Lucado, I was reminded of the harsh setting where Jesus was thrust into the world. Forget about leaving the halls of heaven & omniscience, just think about a baby, ANY baby, being born in a barn. (I suppose the only up-side would have been this: when Jesus was growing up & left the door open & His mother said, “were You born in a barn?” He could have honestly said, “Why, yes, don’t you remember?!”) I digress.
While never having been to Bethlehem Ephrata, I’m told that the ‘stable’ was most likely a small cave, rather than our experience or view of a barn or stable. Max reminded me that there is a small church on the site where Jesus was born (isn’t there a church on every site He even placed His foot?!). Directly behind the altar is the small opening to the stable. You HAVE to stoop to get inside. The Creator of the universe stooped to become one of us & those who came to see Him had to stoop to come into His presence!
Now zip over in your mind to hillside & a band of smelly shepherds. Not exactly the crème de la crème of society. Don’t get me wrong, these men were the ones who raised the special sheep used in sacrifice. Very valuable, but looked down upon, nonetheless. That’s who God chose first to hear the great announcement. Their response? They left their precious sheep to see the Lamb of God!
“They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.” Luke 2:16-20
They didn’t stop off to get a ‘shower gift’ for this new family. No checking were Mary was registered for baby gifts. They brought nothing but their praise & adoration. Honestly, what do you bring the Son of God anyway? Talk about Someone Who has EVERYTHING! He left it all to become a poor Jewish baby.
The shepherds’ gift reminds me of the little boy in
There it is. That’s really all any of us has to give Him. That’s all He really wants. So, I’m afraid I’ll have to give Him a flawed gift this year. I’m not much, but all I really have to give Him is me. My prayer is, I’ll go away changed for life just as they were. I hope all who hear as I share His story will also be ‘astonished.”
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Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
cell 870-217-9376
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