One of my favorite Christmas carols has always been The Little Drummer Boy.
The author of this hymn talks of a little boy asked by the Magi to go see the newborn Savior. He goes with them, but he believes he has nothing to offer. “I have no gift to bring that’s fit to give our king.”
But when he sees Mary, he asks if he should play his drum. She nods. And he plays.
His next two statements are the point to the story. “I played my best for him.” “Then he smiled at me.”
It is not about the drum. It is about the eternal mindset this boy grasped when he came into the presence of Jesus. He was poor. He thought he had nothing worth giving. When he compared himself to the Magi and their gifts, things looked bleak.
The boy had brought his drum. And he played his best for his new King, Jesus. When he finished, Jesus smiled at him. This King knew the little boy’s heart was in the right place. He had overcome his doubt that he had nothing to offer, and took a leap of faith.
This short fictional story packs a huge message about how we are to approach our lives and our Lord, Jesus Christ. Do not look around at what material, worldly things others have. Neither dwell on what you do not have. Focus on the eternal with reverence and awe for our Creator and provider.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
This Psalm is a prayer of Moses, the man of God. “What Moses needed was a new understanding of the meaning of his own life. ‘Number our days’ This is more than just having a sense of mortality; it means valuing the time we do have by using it for eternal purposes.” (commentary from NKJV Study Bible).
In the biblical story of Christmas, God sends his Angel to Shepherds. Considered one of the lowest groups of people, who would have nothing to offer, the Lord shared the Good News with them.
Luke 2:9-10 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”
The shepherds knew how they were considered in society. They did let that keep them from heeding the words of the angel. They stopped what they were doing and went. Luke 2:15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”
V16 says, “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a manger.
V17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
The shepherds obeyed. Then they spread the Word.
Throughout history, shepherds were considered among the lowest of people. But God! Although he started life as a lowly Shepherd, God made David a mighty King and the lineage from which Jesus would be born. And He chose shepherds to be among the first to visit Jesus and proclaim the Good News.
In Isaiah 40:11 He told the Israelites about the Savior that would come one day. “He will tend his flock like a Shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are young.
Jesus our Almight King came down from His throne to Shepherd His people and lead them to truth and salvation.
How can we please Yahweh-Rohi, the Lord our Shepherd, not just at Christmas, but every day?
As Moses discovered, the key to gaining wisdom is to live our lives for eternity. This comes from
Obedience to God’s call, no matter how small or large. Then play our best with the talent(s) He has given us. Live for eternal purposes first and foremost. And build a relationship with Yahweh through reading the Word, prayer and listening.
As you celebrate the birth of our Savior, I pray you remember Luke 2:10… I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Thank You, Abba, for the gift of your Son and salvation. Help us keep our eyes on Your eternal purposes.
Merry Christmas. God Bless you and keep you.
Janice S.