PASKONG KAY SAYA! What Makes Christmas Really Merryનમૂનો

Day 5: A Gift for My King

“After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.” (Luke 2:17 NLT)

Christmas doesn’t just start early in the Philippines; it also ends way later. The celebrations run until the following year, on January 6 to be exact. Households have the license to keep their decorations up until that date, which many call the Feast of the Three Kings. In some provinces, three men dressed as kings would parade around the streets.

But who are these three kings anyway? First things first, the Bible is quiet about their names, and it doesn’t call them kings, but “wise men” or “magi” (Matthew 2:1-12). What the Bible does say is that these wise men saw Jesus’ star (v. 2), traveled from the east to worship Jesus (v. 10-11), and gave Him “gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (v. 11). Many interpretations have been made about these gifts, but beyond the symbolisms, perhaps the message we should focus on is this: We take much time and spend much money shopping gifts for our loved ones, but how about Jesus? What are we offering Him?

Then again, what can we give to the King of kings? Some of us may even be thinking, I don’t have much, and I have nothing precious to offer Him. Well, here is some good news. In Luke 2, we’ll read that Jesus had visitors other than the wise men. An angel of the Lord appeared to some shepherds and told them that the promised Messiah had been born. So, “they hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger” (v. 16). The Bible doesn’t mention them bringing any gifts to Jesus. But it’s quite clear that these shepherds did something for Jesus: “After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child” (v. 17, emphasis added). The result? “All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished” (v. 18).

What can we offer Jesus? It doesn’t have to be as grand as the gold, frankincense, and myrrh offered by the wise men. Following the shepherds’ example, we can simply tell the people around us the wonderful news that Jesus came to “seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10) and to “give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Let us share with them what a difference Jesus has made in our lives—and how He can make a difference in theirs too. Because isn’t the salvation of mankind the very reason why Jesus came? And isn’t telling others about Him, in itself, a great gift we can offer Him?

Who are the top three people with whom you can share Jesus’ gift of salvation? How will you share your faith with them?

Dear Jesus, I acknowledge that I can never repay You for everything You’ve done for me. But please allow me to offer You something by sharing what You did to me with the people around me.