Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matt. 2:11).
A soldier stationed in Iraq reported his camp had been getting hit with mortars every day for three months. In a nearby village, the soldier saw a little boy standing on a street corner. In typical, friendly American fashion, he tossed the lad a teddy bear. That night no mortars struck his camp.
The next day in the same village, he saw more children and tossed out more teddy bears. That night, once again no mortars landed in his camp. Not only that, the people in the village began to wave and cheer. The teddy bears made a difference. Friends in the States collected stuffed toys by the hundreds and shipped them to Iraq. What power in a simple act of kindness.
In World War II, a soldier went into a bakery in one of the recovering cities of Europe. A boy, obviously malnourished, stood with his nose pressed to the window of the bakery. The soldier saw the boy and, upon leaving the bakery, handed him a bag of rolls. The boy looked up and said, “Mister, are you God? I’ve been praying for food.”
The wise men came to Bethlehem with gifts for the Christ child. They “opened their treasures and presented him with gifts.” As you give gifts this season, why not give them in the name of him who was himself the greatest of all gifts.
Thank God for the greatest gift of all—the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ron McClung has completed fifty-four years of ministry with The Wesleyan Church. He and his wife, Carol, enjoy spending time with their two sons, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
