WHO IS LIKE THE LORD?
December 19, 2024THE ADVENT – JOY
December 19, 2024Christmas is a time of gifts. Isn’t that a wonderful idea? It sure is. Who wouldn’t love to receive a gift? It speaks of love and thoughtfulness of the giver, in recognition of, and the love for the receiver. The incident of the “Wise Men from the East” recorded in the Bible, is an important lesson for us, as the disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ.
– “1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”…9…behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was…11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:1-2;9;11
Not just the Christmas narrative, but gift giving is an age-old practice, especially to someone who is considered important. Let us read 1 Chronicles 16:28-29, and see what David has to say to us, about gifting…
– “28 Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength. 29 Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!”
King David urges us to bring gifts to the LORD, and the Wise Men from the East brought gifts befitting a KING. What can we learn from this? Well, Frances Ridley Havergal, a British devotional and song writer, who is born today, the 14 December 1836, that is today, 188 years back, in Astley, United Kingdom, has something very profound to teach us, very much in line with the Scriptures, we read above.
Frances Ridley Havergal was frail in her health, and fell sick most of her life. However, she was an amazing and productive writer. She authored wonderful hymns, such as, “Take My Life and Let It Be,” “Who is on the Lord’s Side?” and “I Gave My Life for Thee.” She is more famously known as the, “Consecration Poet” and she desired with all her heart, to live a life, fully consecrated to Christ, her Redeemer.
Instead of expecting some gift for this Christmas, how would it be if we were to give a precious gift? Can we give ourselves, as a gift, wholly and fully to the LORD, this Christmas season? Would we be interested to give such a gift to the LORD who chose to be born and die for us? Think about it!!! It is worth every bit of it. There is no better gift, we could ever give to the LORD. The LORD would love to receive such a gift. It is precious in His sight. Would we give ourselves to the LORD this Christmas?
