Aww...You Shouldn't Have

Receive: verb \ri-ˈsēv\ to come into possession of : acquire; to receive a gift; to permit to enter: admit: welcome, greet

Receiving is so difficult, isn't it?

Seriously. Here's a dialogue... I'm person one. You're person two.

Person one: "You did a great job today. I was so impressed! You are so talented!"
Person two: "Aww well. It wasn't much. It was nothing really. I appreciate you saying that, but..."

I'm sure we all have responded in a similar way.

Or how about when we receive an awesome gift. Maybe a surprise. Something kind of big!

Person two: "Oh my goodness! You shouldn't have. You did too much. I don't deserve all of this."
I so often feel the need to do something back. (I noticed this about myself over the Christmas season.) It is hard to receive without having something to give in return. I feel the need to give a gift of "equal" value.

Receiving well can be very difficult.

Maybe it is because we live in a "tit for tat" culture? Maybe it is because I feel undeserving of anything good. Maybe it is because I feel the need to earn approval? I don't know.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10,11


The Wise Men...

Can you imagine how different the story would be if the Wise Men received this Gift the same way I receive gifts.

"Oh, the Son of God! The Prince of Peace?! For us? Naw. Not us! We don't deserve Him. He is so...so...perfect. And holy. Really, we shouldn't."

Those three, quasi-pagan, religious men were compelled to do the only thing appropriate at the sight of this Gift. They rejoiced. With exceeding joy. Exceeding. Like jumping up and down, happy, happy, exceeding JOY! The clap your hands really fast kind of joy!

And that was just upon seeing the star. Not yet little Jesus!

Can you imagine the display of joy when they laid eyes upon Him. (Oh, Matthew. I wish you had given more details!)

The Wise Men. They are noted for giving the three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But this morning as I ponder those wise fellas, I realize that their giving was simply a natural response to what God was giving them. Worship.

What a beautiful picture. They weren't trying to give a gift of "equal" value. They weren't trying to earn higher favor with God by showing off their best offerings.

No. They simply laid all they have before Christ. And worshipped.

I can never do enough. They only thing I can do is receive Him. Like the Wise Men. With exceeding joy. Laying all I have down.

And worship Him.

Do you have a difficult time receiving this life changing gift, too? Do you feel the need to somehow "earn" this Gift of Jesus? Maybe you don't feel deserving? Let's just stop all of that. And receive Him today. Greet the Son of God. Welcome Him. And rejoice.