Will You Neglect The Gift?
The year was 1952. The place, war torn Korea. It was Christmas Eve and a young woman with a newborn baby was struggling over the frozen countryside. She had heard of a missionary living nearby who might could help her. But the night was so cold and snow now began to fall. Finally, exhausted, she took shelter under a bridge. Worried about her newborn, she removed her own clothes, wrapped them around the baby and held him close in the warm circle of her arms. The next day, as the missionary was delivering Christmas packages, he heard the cry of a baby. He followed the sound to the bridge and found the young mother frozen to death, still clutching her new born son. The missionary tenderly lifted the baby out of her arms, carried it home and became it’s adoptive father.
When the boy was 10 years old, the missionary told him the story of his mother’s death on Christmas Eve. The young boy began to cry, realizing the sacrifice his mother had made for him. The next morning, the boy’s bed was empty. Seeing a fresh set of small footprints in the snow outside, the missionary bundled up in a winter coat and followed the trail. It led back to the bridge where the young mother had died. As the missionary approached the bridge, he stopped, stunned. The boy had removed his clothing and was shivering from the bitter cold. Moving closer, he heard the boy say through chattering teeth: “Mother, were you this cold for me?”
This boy’s mother had given him a priceless gift by giving her own life. During this Christmas season, we celebrate the ultimate Gift that was given over two thousand years ago. Imagine the scene in Heaven as Jesus looked down on a world dying in sin’s icy grip. In love, the King of kings removed His royal robe and made that degrading transition to a robe of flesh. The Creator, who formed the earth with his voice, reduced Himself down to the cry of a newborn baby. As mere humans, we cannot begin to grasp this sacrifice that was made. Yet, when this Gift arrived, it was neglected by the ones who needed it most.
John 1:11 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
Isaiah prophesied, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
From His birth to His death, you can find those who neglected the Gift, and for so many “reasons”.
No Room
What was the innkeeper’s reason for neglecting the Gift? He had no room. Although he didn’t send the Gift away, he allowed others to crowd his inn and his heart. Is there a room in your heart for the Gift? Or dare I say, is your entire heart reserved for the Gift?
There was a church who was having their annual Christmas play. You know the kind, where you dress up little girls with paper wings and little shepherds with cardboard sheep. Well, in that church there was a young boy who was mentally handicapped. He wanted so badly to be a part of the play, that the director finally consented and gave him the part of the innkeeper. “You stand behind this door,” she told him. “And when Joseph knocks, just open it and say, No room in the inn.” The boy smiled and nodded eagerly. As the play progressed, Joseph and Mary made their way over to the door and knocked. The little boy opened and said his line, “No room in the inn.” Joseph and Mary sadly turned and walked away as the little boy shut the door. Then all at once, the door swung back open, and the little boy stood there with tears rolling down his face. “Come back Joseph!” he cried. “You can have my bed!”
Friend, if you have never accepted the Gift, I promise that He will be the best gift to enter the doors of your heart.
No Time
Luke 10:38-41 tells us the story of a woman named Martha who DID make room for the Gift in her home. Unfortunately she did not make room for Him in her schedule. Verse 41, “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.” That word ‘careful’ translates to: full of care. This sounds like quite a few of us during the holiday season. We gladly receive the Lord into our home. “Make yourself comfortable,” we say. “But if You will excuse us, we have to string up the Christmas lights, hang the wreath, send out the cards, buy the gifts, wrap the gifts, buy the turkey, cook the turkey…etc.” We are living in an era of time where there seems to be no time. But as the old saying goes, “You will do what you want to do.” In the end, we will be involved with the things that have the highest priority. Ask yourself the question, What is the highest priority on my schedule this month? Am I A Martha?
No Courage
When Jesus was placed on trial before an angry mob, Peter became afraid of his identity as Jesus’ disciple. Mark 14:54 “And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.” In the age of political correctness, it’s easy to warm up to the phrase, Happy Holidays. But as a child of God, don’t be ashamed to greet someone with, Merry Christmas! Sure it’s the holiday season, but which holiday are you celebrating? The only reason the world even tolerates this season is because of the financial boost it gives to a retailer’s wallet.
In 2011, Rep. Joe Walsh announced to the people of Illinois that Congress had forbidden him and his fellow Congressmen from wishing their constitutes a Merry Christmas. In a video released on YouTube, Congressman Walsh stood beside a framed copy of the Constitution and boldly declared his right to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.
Friend, I pray that you will not neglect the Gift during this Christmas season. The best remedy for neglect is a good memory. If you haven’t accepted the Gift, please remember the cold rags of flesh that Christ traded for His royal robe. If you find yourself too busy, please remember that He not only wants your heart, He also wants your time. Lastly, please remember to wish someone a Merry CHRISTmas this month. A little courage can go a long way in being a witness for Christ.
From all of the Blythe Family, Merry Christmas Everyone!!