I remember as a kid, knowing the holidays were here when all of the Christmas specials came on television. Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snow Man and The Little Drummer Boy. They were all fun to watch; the little drummer boy was a bit hokey but it was all part of the season's traditions. I heard the song again the other day and really listened to the words. Of course, most of the lyrics are pah rum pum pum pum, but there are some others mixed in. "Come they told me, a new born King to see, our finest gifts we bring, to lay before the King." Then he goes on to say, "I have no gift to bring, that's fit to give a King". He felt he had nothing to offer the King that would be on par with the gifts the wise men had brought, nothing as valuable as gold, frankincense and myrhh.
He then goes on to play the little drum that he carries and he sees the baby King smile at him. And he realizes that he did honor the King, with himself and his drum.
We think of Christmas and we think of gifts. I had to go to one of the big box stores yesterday and it was a mad house. People rushing around, getting last minute presents for everyone on their list. Traffic everywhere, people in such a hurry. Often times taking the joy out of the season and certainly forgetting the real reason that we celebrate. We as Christians celebrate this time of year because we received the ultimate gift. We received a gift that seemed a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. The Jews had heard for centuries that there was a king coming. They expected that king to come riding in on a horse, who was going to be victorious in a most certain bloody battle. They expected a man of might and muscle. What came was a baby, soft and lowly. He was a gift that many turned their backs on, but He never turned His back on us. Even when His back was ripped and torn, sinew and muscle showing. Blood pouring off of Him. But as Paul Harvey used to say, that's the rest of the story.
So we are thankful and observe Christmas to honor Jesus' birth. And even as we get caught up in the rush to get our loved ones presents, what gift do we have to bring our King? I think we all feel like that little drummer boy, what gift can I bring to Jesus? What do I have that is good enough for Him? What can I make, buy, conjure up to please Him. But if we will take time to look at that drummer boy we will get our answer. The greatest gift we can give to Him is ourselves. Talk about a riddle wrapped in a mystery in an enigma. Here we are, alive because He gave us the gift of life, breathing because His air fills our lungs and all He wants is...us. There are days that we feel inadequate, days we feel like the worst of the worst, and yet He wants us. There are days we deal with depression, days we deal with anger, days we barely make it through and yet He wants us. That's it. He wants us. He gives us the gift of life and He just wants us to give ourselves back to Him. And yet we still struggle and think that cannot possibly be enough. He desires fellowship with us. He desires time with us. He desires us.
I remember a song from quite a few years ago that Larnelle Harris used to sing called 'I Miss My Time With You'. It is God talking to someone, saying this,
"I miss My time with you
Those moments together
I need to be with you each day
And it hurts me when you say
You're too busy, busy trying to serve Me
But how can you serve Me
When your spirit's empty
There's a longing in My heart
Wanting more than just a part of you
It's true
I miss My time with you"
That is not a God who desires gold and precious stones and elaborate gifts. That is a God who loves us and hopes that we will choose Him. I remember when I was younger, maybe in junior high. Overweight, unattractive, no friends. Gym class was horrible. Having to play sports and knowing that no one was going to pick me to be on their team. Oh, how I just wanted to be chosen. How I wanted to just be that first pick, just once. I remember that longing, that yearning.
We are God's first pick. And He wants to be our first pick also. It's as simple as that. It is as good enough as that. As they say today, it is all that and a bag of chips. We are His and He wants to be our all in all.
And beyond giving ourselves, we also give Him all that is in us. We are all unique. We are all different. We all have talents and qualities, different capabilities and aptitudes. We are all incomparable and unusual in our own way, so we need to stay away from weighing ourselves against anyone else. The drummer boy weighed himself against the wise men and felt that he was lacking. But God looks at us and sees value and merit in all of us. Whether we are bold or shy, whether we are rich or poor, no matter who we are or how we 'feel' we are valued and esteemed, priceless in His eyes. He considers us a gift beyond measure.
For years I felt like that junior high kid, never good enough, never wanted. What I had didn't measure up. As a grown up I felt less than. I didn't sing as well as she did. I was not as good a speaker as he was. I wasn't as well versed in the bible. What I had was not enough. I had no gift to bring that was fit to give a King. And then I came to realize that I was the gift. I was what He wanted all along. I was enough, because after all He made me. And God don't make no mistakes.
So I challenge you to pick up your 'drum' whatever it may be and offer it back up to the King. And then watch Him smile.
Pah rum pum pum pum
He then goes on to play the little drum that he carries and he sees the baby King smile at him. And he realizes that he did honor the King, with himself and his drum.
We think of Christmas and we think of gifts. I had to go to one of the big box stores yesterday and it was a mad house. People rushing around, getting last minute presents for everyone on their list. Traffic everywhere, people in such a hurry. Often times taking the joy out of the season and certainly forgetting the real reason that we celebrate. We as Christians celebrate this time of year because we received the ultimate gift. We received a gift that seemed a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. The Jews had heard for centuries that there was a king coming. They expected that king to come riding in on a horse, who was going to be victorious in a most certain bloody battle. They expected a man of might and muscle. What came was a baby, soft and lowly. He was a gift that many turned their backs on, but He never turned His back on us. Even when His back was ripped and torn, sinew and muscle showing. Blood pouring off of Him. But as Paul Harvey used to say, that's the rest of the story.
So we are thankful and observe Christmas to honor Jesus' birth. And even as we get caught up in the rush to get our loved ones presents, what gift do we have to bring our King? I think we all feel like that little drummer boy, what gift can I bring to Jesus? What do I have that is good enough for Him? What can I make, buy, conjure up to please Him. But if we will take time to look at that drummer boy we will get our answer. The greatest gift we can give to Him is ourselves. Talk about a riddle wrapped in a mystery in an enigma. Here we are, alive because He gave us the gift of life, breathing because His air fills our lungs and all He wants is...us. There are days that we feel inadequate, days we feel like the worst of the worst, and yet He wants us. There are days we deal with depression, days we deal with anger, days we barely make it through and yet He wants us. That's it. He wants us. He gives us the gift of life and He just wants us to give ourselves back to Him. And yet we still struggle and think that cannot possibly be enough. He desires fellowship with us. He desires time with us. He desires us.
I remember a song from quite a few years ago that Larnelle Harris used to sing called 'I Miss My Time With You'. It is God talking to someone, saying this,
"I miss My time with you
Those moments together
I need to be with you each day
And it hurts me when you say
You're too busy, busy trying to serve Me
But how can you serve Me
When your spirit's empty
There's a longing in My heart
Wanting more than just a part of you
It's true
I miss My time with you"
That is not a God who desires gold and precious stones and elaborate gifts. That is a God who loves us and hopes that we will choose Him. I remember when I was younger, maybe in junior high. Overweight, unattractive, no friends. Gym class was horrible. Having to play sports and knowing that no one was going to pick me to be on their team. Oh, how I just wanted to be chosen. How I wanted to just be that first pick, just once. I remember that longing, that yearning.
We are God's first pick. And He wants to be our first pick also. It's as simple as that. It is as good enough as that. As they say today, it is all that and a bag of chips. We are His and He wants to be our all in all.
And beyond giving ourselves, we also give Him all that is in us. We are all unique. We are all different. We all have talents and qualities, different capabilities and aptitudes. We are all incomparable and unusual in our own way, so we need to stay away from weighing ourselves against anyone else. The drummer boy weighed himself against the wise men and felt that he was lacking. But God looks at us and sees value and merit in all of us. Whether we are bold or shy, whether we are rich or poor, no matter who we are or how we 'feel' we are valued and esteemed, priceless in His eyes. He considers us a gift beyond measure.
For years I felt like that junior high kid, never good enough, never wanted. What I had didn't measure up. As a grown up I felt less than. I didn't sing as well as she did. I was not as good a speaker as he was. I wasn't as well versed in the bible. What I had was not enough. I had no gift to bring that was fit to give a King. And then I came to realize that I was the gift. I was what He wanted all along. I was enough, because after all He made me. And God don't make no mistakes.
So I challenge you to pick up your 'drum' whatever it may be and offer it back up to the King. And then watch Him smile.
Pah rum pum pum pum