What Can I Give?

 

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"Do all the good you can,

 by all the means you can, 

in all the ways you can, 

in all the places you can,

at all the times you can,

to all the people you can,

  as long as ever you can."  

~ John Wesley, theologian

One of my favorite childhood memories around Christmas is watching "The Little Drummer Boy",  about a poor boy who felt he had nothing to offer the newborn King, Jesus, as he watched others bring the finest of gifts to Him.  He wanted to give something to Jesus, and realized he could use his talent of playing the drums to honor Him.

Ever feel like you have nothing to offer Jesus that is worthy?  Like doing your best isn't quite enough?  Maybe it's not received the way it was intended, or it wasn't quite as sufficient as we designed it to be.  When we feel like that, it's because we are basing our lives on us and our efforts.  We  need to remind ourselves that what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross is all based on Him and His efforts.  

"When He had received the drink, Jesus said 'It is finished.'  With that,
He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit." John 19:30

The Crucifixion, Paolo Veneziano 1340, National Gallery of Art

Everything Jesus did was in humility.  From the journey from perfect heaven, where He existed in the form of God, down to broken earth, where He became a servant, suffered public humiliation and a gruesome unjustified death, all so we could be reconciled back to God (Phil 2:5-8).  

The angel appeared to the shepherds - those considered outcasts and marginalized- with the news of Christ's birth, giving them the privilege of seeing firsthand their Savior. 

The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds- Thomas Cole 1834

Chrysler Museum of Art

From the way He entered the world in Bethlehem, 'a small village among all the people of Judah',  to being born in a lowly manger with the animals, He was averse to the worldly appearances of position and power.  

Lorenzo Monaco, (Piero di Giovanni) 1406, The Met 

Just like the shepherds (and the little drummer boy), we can only offer ourselves - our time, our talents, our hearts - to serve Him with.  When we do, say or think out of a response of gratitude, it's enough.  Don't measure or compare.  We use our gifts He gave us to show His love to others.   And only He knows our intentions.

What can we give?  Ourselves.  Our hearts and minds.  We will always be enough, because Jesus considered us enough to die for.

✙ Dear Heavenly Father, this week, especially, help us to take time to really permeate our minds with the love You showed us.  With the way You deemed us worthy and showed us by sending Your perfect Son to us.  We can't earn it.  We can just receive it. Banish the thoughts of comparison from our minds and instead replace it with Your Words that deem us 'enough' because of what Jesus did.  Amen.