Lavish

Tis the season for lavishments: lavish parties, lavish meals, and oh how you love to give

lavish gifts to those you love, friends, a co-worker perhaps, maybe even a stranger or

two. So what gift will you bring to me, the King of Kings.

Do you know what I would want? Have you asked? 

Will you ask me what I want specifically from you? But know this it will cost you. 

Do you go out of your way to find the perfect gift? You pick up extra shifts at work, take another part-time job, go to five different stores in three different towns, wait outside in the freezing cold for hours, scour the internet to find the best deal, while others of you will spend hours handcrafting a gift.

The point is you’ll spare nothing to give that perfect gift to those you love. Will you not

lavish on me the same?

Activation: Take time to ask the Lord what he would like from you this holiday season. It could be: time, a step of faith, to forgive someone, to read the Bible story in front of non-believing relatives/friends, to share the gospel with someone, the list is endless. Then step out in obedience for what he has asked of you to do.

Matthew 26:6-10 (NIV)

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.”

Matthew 2:7-12 (NKJV)

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what

time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully

for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may

come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the

star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where

the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

And when they had 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 gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned

in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country

another way.