Of Giving and Gifts

The Magi followed the star, found the Child, bowed down and worshipped. The Message, in Matt 2 says, "Overcome, they knelt down and worshipped Him."  Then they opened their treasure and presented the Child King with their gifts.

After their long journey in search of the newly born King, they worshipped. And they gave.  It was the overflow of their joy. Overcome, they gave their treasure away. 

We all have treasure. Everyone. It may be the kind we think of when we hear the word treasure, gold, precious stones, hard cash. But we have other gifts to give to our King. We have  talents, abilities and skills to great or lesser degrees. We have time and energy; we have our bodies, our hearts and our minds. What we have to offer is different for everyone. We are all uniquely and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) 

So do we do we give out of duty? Or do we give because we are overcome with the joy of knowing Jesus. Does it overflow out of the delight of spending time with Him. Of being full to overflowing with the goodness of His Presence, His grace in our lives? God wants us to give, out of gratitude. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says God loves a cheerful giver,  not one who gives under compulsion.  We can't muster up cheerful giving apart from finding Him. This only leads to resentment. Only in finding our ever Present God, in knowing Him and His great love, can we give cheerfully to Him.

There are other issues, questions I need to ask myself.  Am I giving to Him or am I giving, trying to please others? Or am I holding back, keeping my treasure to myself? Or am I holding back thinking that what I have to offer isn't good enough? Do I compare myself to others?  Good hard questions.

I want to learn to give freely and not worry about if what I give is good enough. I want to  trust the outcome of my giving, like letting a bird go and watching it fly away, never knowing where it will land. I want to set it free for the joy of watching it fly. What I have is Yours Lord!

I do seek Your Presence, Lord. I want to be overcome with the joy of knowing You. I want to offer my treasure as overflow, given to You with unabashed love and joy. Thank you Lord, for being the King who Shepherds my soul. The One Who loves me, just as I am.

But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 

are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a Ruler 

who will be the Shepherd of my people Israel.

Matthew 2:6

Through Locked Doors

John 20:19. One of my favorite passages. He came to them. They were behind locked doors living in fear and anxiety. They were scared, confused.

Jesus came. 

He stood among them.

"Peace be with you!"

And then He showed them His wounds. It was Him! Joy!

It was all true. He had spoken to them in the upper room about this. He had promised. He reassured them that every thing would be alright.

John 14:18 "No. I will not abandon you as orphans; I will come to you."

John 14:28 "...I am going away and I am coming back to you."

John 16:16 "In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me."

John 16:20 "You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy."

John 16:33 "I have told you these things SO THAT in Me you may have peace."

Over and over again. He told them. He prepared them. To trust Him. To have peace. In Him. He knew they didn't understand. In John 16:16:18 the disciples said, "We don't get it." What an understatement. They kept asking all the wrong questions. Yet Jesus was so patient with them. He gave them explanations, promises, His words to remember. It would all become clear in time. They would remember what He said. And they would learn to trust. 

What was it that He promised? It was the promise of His Presence. To never to leave or abandon them. He came and stood among them.

They were still in the school of Christ. They had a steep learning curve. As I am. How much of what I learn from Him, I just don't get. How much more peace and joy would I live in if I just trust His words? All my questions are probably 99% the wrong questions. Thank you Lord for Your patience with me. Thank you that You come to me over and over again. Thank you that there are no doors that you won't penetrate in your pursuit of me. 

They were overjoyed when they saw it was Him. It was really Him. He had conquered death. The promise of joy was theirs.  Thank you Lord for your Presence. Help me to live in Your way. I thank you for your love and your grace. For joy. Unspeakable joy.