You’re Worth Loving
This year St. Peter’s UCC in Grant Park is providing the book A Love Worth Giving to You at Christmas by Max Lucado for our members to distribute to their families, friends, and neighbors as a small gift. Each book includes an invitation to worship with our church family on Christmas Eve.
Throughout Advent we are reminding everyone that they are worth loving! Lucado writes, “(Jesus) went from commanding angels to sleeping in straw. From holding stars to clutching Mary’s finger. The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier. Why? Because that’s what love does.”
Each day, during Advent, join us for a journey to see just how much God’s love for you is evidenced in the story of Christmas.
What Can I Give to a King?
What do you want for Christmas?
We ask our children, and other loved ones in our lives, this question for weeks. After all, we want to be sure that we try to please them by giving them what they want.
While I understand that the history of the Magi’s visit to baby Jesus doesn’t happen before Christmas, the gifts that they brought Jesus caught me thinking about how Jesus would have responded had he been asked what He wanted for Christmas.
It’s no surprise that a baby wouldn’t want a toy, maybe some needed clothing, but in honesty bringing gifts that first Christmas morning would have been more for Joseph and Mary’s use than Jesus.
Therefore, maybe some diapers, formula, blankets, a real crib, or something useful.
What did the Magi bring?
“They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:11 (World English Bible)
These weren’t gifts for a child, or even for parents (though no one would argue receiving gold); rather, they were gifts fit for a king.
There’s significant theological meaning behind each of these three gifts (fitting for a future sermon), nonetheless, they were gifts.
Notice, though, what I would consider the greatest gift they brought.
It says when they noticed him, they “fell down and worshiped him.” The Magi brought their worship!
What does God want from us this Christmas? What does He want from us every day of our lives?
He wants our worship. Not just profession from our lips, but true, authentic worship that puts Him above and before all earthly things.
This Christmas, while YOU are the reason He came because YOU are WORTH LOVING, take some time to respond to His love by giving Him what He treasures most. Worship.
Prayer: Help us to find more time to come to Your presence God and truly worship You. Keep us from being rushed away but to treasure the time we have to be in Your temple, to worship with others, to hear from Your Word. Amen.