Is His Name on Your List 12/15/03
Psalm 116:12
The time is almost upon us. We’ve made our list and have checked it twice; and the truth be known, we give whether they are naughty or nice. If you have kids like mine, you’ve had the countdown for many weeks. Everyday it’s the announcement; only ___ many days till Christmas.
I don’t fault the kids; Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays. I don’t care for the stress and the rush but I love this holiday. I love the songs. I love the skits and plays. And we always justify it by saying remember the reason for the season? But do we really do that?
This morning I want to give you some thoughts to think about different types of gifts.
God gave the First and Greatest Gift
2 Corinthians 9:15, Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
The greatest gift ever made was by God himself in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. We read of it in the Bible in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
He didn’t have to come and we certainly didn’t deserve it. But He willing left Heaven and all His glory. He gave up a life where He was praised and honored to come to an earth where He was probed and prosecuted.
Not only did God give His Son but the Son gave His life, and we are reminded in our Lord’s own words in John 15:13:"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".
Quite obviously, God is a giving God, a loving God, and a God of mercy and grace. How marvelous indeed is His gift to each of us!
The Gift of the Magi
Now contrary to most nativity scenes, the Wise men were not there the night of the birth. Luke gives the description of the shepherds finding a “Babe” in a manger. The recording of Matthew 2:11 tells us the Wise men came into the house and saw the young Child. They presented 3 gifts. Each with it’s own meaning.
Gold symbolized royalty. Remember these guys had just left the palace of Herod who had the name of “the king of the Jews”, and we don’t read anywhere where they left Herod anything. They were wise because they recognized the true “King of the Jews”.
Frankincense was a fragrance indicating the fragrance of His life. We talked last week in Ephesians 5:2, And walk in Love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Myrrh was an ointment used in the embalming of the dead. A rather strange gift to give a child. Probably would not make the top ten on a child’s Christmas list. But these wise men knew that He was born to die.
Three unique gifts from three wise men. And wise men (women and children still seek Him today.
Gifts from Us
Normally, when we give a little gift to some friend or loved one at Christmas, we like to show our appreciation. Now before you go looking under yours pews for a gift, I do appreciate all of you. Your Love and prayers overwhelms me. But as much as I’d like to, I didn’t get you all a gift. Remember it is the thought that counts.
But when you consider everything that God has give us. Love, joy, Hope, peace, the list goes on and on. But remember the list we talked about in the beginning of our sermon? Is His name on it? Are you giving Him any thing this Christmas? Isn’t He the reason for the season?
So my question to you is the question the psalmist asks in our text, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?"
What we can give to God is small when compared to what He has given us; but we must not fail in presenting our gifts to Christ. We must put His name on our list. What are some of the things we can give Him?
OUR LOVE
Love is the greatest of all gifts. It’s what I plan on getting my wife this year for Christmas. Reality shows like “The bachelor”, “Average Joe”, thrive on it. Most songs are written about it. It is the most desired emotion in the world. Everybody needs love.
How can we give God our love? Two ways, first toward God and then toward our neighbors. When asked of a lawyer, "Which is the great commandment?" Jesus answered in Matthew 22:36-39, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind". This is the first and great commandment, And the second like it; "You shall love your neighbor as yourself".
All gifts are worthless and unacceptable unless accompanied by and given from a heart of love. True love has no limitations, no boundaries. Love cannot be purchased; it is always freely given.
No wonder the Scriptures place so much emphasis upon our love for God.
OUR LOYALTY
The wise men that saw Christ’s show a lesson in loyalty. Not only did they pursue their journey with diligence, against great odds, but also they refused the bribes of an earthly king, their loyalty was firmly anchored in God himself. Did you ever think that they went to the palace to start with in search of the child? After all isn’t that where you would expect to see the King of the Jews to be. The star they had seen in the East was gone and only reappeared after they had departed from Herod.
Others were unseeing, others refused to believe, but the wise men grasped a promise. They clung to God’s Word. We will never find Him, or serve Him, if we do not believe His Word.
The wise men were not satisfied just to find Him and leave. They recognized His divinity and they worshipped Him.
What is more, they verified their love and worship through presentation of gifts-gold, frankincense, and myrrh, some of earth’s most valuable treasures. They gave to Christ their very best.
We must do no less. Christ must be first in our life.
OUR TALENTS
In one form or another we each have special and unique talents. Our talents are not the same. They may not be equal in number or variety, but they are gifts from the Creator and we must use them for God.
Are you using your gifts? More importantly are you using your gifts for Him?
Paul wrote to young Timothy, 1 Timothy 4:14, "Do not neglect the gift that is in you".
And we must not neglect our gifts either. I know in this Church we have people that can sing, I wish (and I know you wish too) that I could sing too. There are people who can teach. There are people here that can labor yet very few shows up for the work parties. We all have gifts. How are you using them? We all can get so busy in this life but are you laying up of treasures in heaven or earth?
If we use our talents for His glory, we will have the smile of God upon us in this life and, at death, we will hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant: you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord" (Matthew 25:21).
Our Resources
You know they say that offerings to the church drop more in the Month of December more than any other month. Now preacher you might be thinking, don’t start on money now.
But I heard this song about this poor lady who was raising 3 kids by herself and when she was asked by her kids if they was going to be any presents this year for Christmas. Her reply was the very essence of the true meaning of Christmas. She told them that they had already received the only gift they ever needed 2000 years ago. That is the reason for the season.
There is a difference in a tithe and an offering. A tithe is us giving Him back 10% of His money. An offering is anything above that. And many people try to rob Peter to pay Paul and take their tithe that they normally give the church and give everywhere else including buying Christmas presents for everyone else.
Our resources can be more than our finances. We have been blessed with a beautiful gym and a new van. Are we using those resources to the best of our ability?
Remember He owns it all and He just allows us to use it, lets make sure we are giving Him the best of our resources.
OURSELVES
First let me talk to the Christians this morning. We must give ourselves as a vessel for His use. Paul writes in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living’ sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God".
In light of all His great gifts to us how can we do less?
We are the light of the world. We are the moons which reflects the Son. I’m not going to ask you what you did for Him last night, last week, or last year. We can’t change the past. But I will ask you what are you going to do for Him now. How are you going to mature your relationship to Him? What gift are you going to give Him?
What better gift to bring to Christ than a yielding of our total selves to His will. Unless He is Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.
Now if you are here this morning and have never accepted Him as your Savior, let me talk to you. You want to know what you can gift you can give to Jesus this morning? You can give Him your heart. You can make a life changing decision here this morning. It will not only be a gift to Him, but also it will be the best gift to everyone. You will be a better husband or wife. Your kids will get a new mommy or daddy. Your employer will get a new employee without the hassle of the hiring process. It is the best gift you can ever receive. It comes with an eternity guaranty, there is no assembly required, the only thing you have to do is receive the gift.
Thus we offer ourselves-a gift unto Christ.
All we have and all we are comes from God. Acts 17:28, "for in Him we live, and move, and have our being". Therefore, what are you going to give Him this year for Christmas?
