I love Christmas! One of my favorite songs is the Little Drummer Boy, about a boy who comes to see the infant Jesus. He doesn’t bring a gift for his newborn savior, so he gives Jesus what the drummer boy does best: the gift of playing his drum. The little drummer boy knows it’s not much for his Lord, but he does his absolute best, to which Jesus is very happy with him. The little drummer boy showed love and honor to his Lord.

Even though this is a fictional story made up for a song, there’s plenty of truth to it. There is absolutely nothing you can give Jesus that is worthy of our Lord and Savior. He doesn’t need for anything, He made it all. What Jesus truly wants is our best. He wants our love and honor. We need to work towards that with all we have and all we are. Whatever we do, we need to do “with all of our hearts, as if working for the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23)

There’s a story in the Bible about a bunch of people giving to the church. Then, this little old lady puts into the offering plate two small coins. This made Jesus stop what He was doing and take notice. Jesus said that everyone gave out of their abundance, but this woman gave all she had. Jesus was very pleased, not by the amount, but by the love it took this lady to give those two coins. Even though she was poor and lacked so much, she loved Jesus enough to put Him first place rather than herself.

If I keep Jesus first place on my mind and in my life, then I will instinctively be giving the best of myself to the people in my life. I always wanted to be the best husband and father I could be to my family. The only way I can do that is if Jesus is in everything I do. I need my family to see less of me and more of Jesus. The best version of me is not me, but Jesus Christ within me.  

I am not perfect and I’m not going to get things right all the time, but what I can do is to do my best with the best love I have. When things work out well, give God the glory. Show that love to Him. When things go wrong sometimes, that is also a place for Jesus. We can show mercy and kindness. If we are the ones at fault, we can set our ego aside, apologize, and try to fix the problem.

We are most like Jesus when we are giving ourselves fully for others. Not just working with our hands but working from our hearts.

This is not to say that you are saved through the good things you do. The Bible says you are not saved by your works, but by faith in Jesus Christ. However, that faith will produce the desire to do good things out of love for him.

I like the quote from Mother Teresa that says, “I can’t do great things, but I can do small things with great love.” The Bible says that God is love, so whenever I do something with love, Jesus is doing that with me. Even my small things I can give as an offering to my Jesus. Romans 12 says for us to make ourselves and everything we do daily into an offering for the Lord. All we are and all we do should be offered up to the Lord who offered Himself freely for us.

Jesus Christ, God in a man, was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. However, He was crucified and died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our own bad deeds. Through this offering of Himself, we can be forgiven of our sins. Then, just as Jesus rose again from the dead, we too will rise again and be with Him in Heaven for all eternity. Free to live and free to love forever.

So please, whatever you have and whatever you do, give it as if giving to Jesus Himself. Don’t worry that you haven’t brought a gift for Him, just give what you have and give it your best. In doing this, you will be bringing a smile to the face of our risen Savior.  

God’s blessings to you.

DH