[335]. A Poem Message - What Is The Greatest Present? – Christmas Poem

[335]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHAT IS THE GREATEST PRESENT? – CHRISTMAS POEM

This poem was written because I was asked to write one for Christmas. My thoughts had been on presents. I am not one who is too keen on the giving of Christmas gifts because the whole thing has become commercialised and it places obligations on people.

Nevertheless I chose the theme of presents for the poem and looked at the greatest present that can be given. Of course Jesus Christ is the greatest gift that God gave to us, but the greatest gift we can give to God is OURSELVES.

The response to the gift of God’s love is ours and so many despise that gift and reject it. {{Romans 5:8 “but God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”}} {{Ephesians 5:2 “and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”}}

The Magi who visited the young child, Jesus, were not part of the Christmas story. They came about 18 months later. Three items were mentioned, but the wording tells us there was more than the three named gifts – {{Matthew 2:11 “and they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother and they fell down and worshipped Him and opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.”}}. That can be written as {{Matthew 2:11 “and they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother and they fell down and worshipped Him and opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”}}

What was presented to Jesus was not materialism as modern gift-giving largely is, but aspects of character and ministry. Gold = His divinity. Frankincense = a holy, sweet, pure life. Myrrh = His death and burial.

The best known verse in the bible is this one and the gift is contained in it – {{John 3:16 “for God so loved the world that HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”}}.

Never underestimate the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ to us reprobate sinners.

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WHAT IS THE GREATEST PRESENT? – CHRISTMAS POEM

What’s the greatest present you can give

This coming Christmas time?

Expensive clothes or robot toys?

Delicious chocolates all in line?

A brand new car, or swimming pool?

A bright new boat or holiday?

Computers, over which kids drool?

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What’s the dearest gift that you can give

To someone that you love?

A diamond ring, or brand new home?

An aeroplane to fly above?

A painting by Picasso done?

The Eiffel Tower bought from France?

A paid up front, space shuttle run?

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What’s the greatest gift that God did give

To all the human race?

We see this gift in human frame,

The baby Christ in mum’s embrace.

The Son of God in cloths was wrapped

In such a humble manger, laid,

While heav’n and earth, their hands they clapped.

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What’s the greatest love that God did show

To every human soul?

We see that love clearly expressed

Through Jesus Christ who makes us whole.

God gave the best that heaven owned,

The dearest and the greatest One -

A Baby once, but now enthroned.

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What’s the greatest, precious present then

That we can ever give?

In Bethlehem the answer rests -

We give OURSELVES to God, to live.

The Christmas message is just this -

That Jesus came and gave His all

So we might share the Saviour’s bliss.

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R E Ferguson 2 November 1999 9-6-8-8-8-8-8 ABCBDED