December 3, 2014
What are you offering?
May the offering of our time to be in the
presence of our Lord be a blessing not only for our lives, but also our souls
as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the entrance of the King of
Kings! AMEN.
Archimedes solved the question of a crime by simple
density. Farmers use density to
determine how much fertilizer or phosphorous to put on a field. And cities use density to determine how best
to structure the utilities needed to supply a city with water, electricity and roads. But what does density have to do with Gold. Gold is one of the densest of precious
metals. And Gold is exactly what was
offered by the first of the three wise men.
Tonight we begin our first of the three gifts of the
Magi. Typically the gifts and preaching
on them is after Christmas, because the Magi and the gifts did not arrive on
the scene of the inn in Bethlehem until January 6th, the 12th
Day of Christmas. But I chose these
three gifts to preach upon, because they deserve more than just one day and one
sermon. These gifts have greater meaning
and significance even for us here tonight.
The first gift of Gold is not only a priceless metal, but a
color that denotes being set apart from others.
We use it on the Altar to highlight the symbols on the Altar. We wear it on our fingers for wedding bands
and even ear rings. Our society even
keeps accurate track of it daily on the reports from the stock exchange where
countries used to not only stock pile gold, but use it as the basis for our
money. But of what significance is Gold
for a child? Why are the Magi offering
it? And most importantly during this
Advent Season we have to answer the simple question, “What are you offering?”
Simply the gift of Gold offered to the Christ child in the
manger is not to ‘buy favors’ by the Magi.
Just as we present our offering on Sunday not to gain favor, Gold was
how one Magi presented a wealth that would be a great help to Joseph and
Mary. Remember Joseph and Mary did not
arrive in Bethlehem by caravan, but alone and by Mary riding upon a
donkey. They did not have extravagant
wealth only what they carried on their backs or in their meager purse. The journey they were about to embark upon in
fleeing to Egypt would not be cheap and the Gold offered by the Magi would
insure they would not starve and be able to get established wherever they were
headed, even to distant Egypt. And the
Magi was just the person God intended to use.
Chris Jackson in his book, “Loving God When You Don’t Love
the Church” says, “People are the most common form of answered prayer.”
(Kindle Location 1941) And I believe
Joseph and Mary didn’t know what to think.
Having experienced the Shepherds who came from the fields, the animals
that bowed in adoration with the birth of Jesus, the Angels announcing the
birth of Jesus Christ, the only thing their Jewish faith and heritage taught
Mary and Joseph to do was to pray. And
these Magi were an answer to prayer.
This was God’s answer to Joseph and Mary and God used this Magi to bring
Gold, exactly what they needed for the days, months and years ahead.
So I ask we who gather here this Wednesday evening during
the first week of Advent, what gift do you bring to the Manger? What are you offering? God does not expect Gold. God does not expect us to sell the land we
farm, the cattle we tend, nor anything that has any materialistic value here on
this earth. God only asks us to humbly offer
ourselves.
God wants us to offer ourselves so we can be used like the
Gold given to Joseph and Mary in order for each and every one of us to be the
hands of Christ for our world around us.
Whether it is remodeling the downstairs rooms of the church or kitchen,
hands to make beer rocks as a fundraiser, cleaning the church in preparation
for our Christmas celebration or donating of time or talents as one is able for
the glory of God. God only asks for us
to offer ourselves in humble adoration of His coming in the manger.
For in offering ourselves on bended knee, like the animals
in the stable and the Magi, our gifts offered from the heart will give the
greatest Glory to our God Jesus Christ Who lies in the manger. For Jesus Christ comes, not expecting gifts
of great monetary worth measured from an earthly perspective, but great gifts
measured from an eternal perspective, God’s perspective.
May we respond to “what are you offering?” not with Gold,
but with ourselves so we can honor God’s gift given to us in a lowly manger for
all of mankind. Including all of us
saints gathered here at Emmanuel this First Wednesday of Advent. AMEN.
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