Thursday, December 21st

“And by the light of that same star, three wise men came from country far…”

The Wise Men (we only surmise there were three because three gifts were brought) give something more than the gold, frankincense and myrrh. When we read closely, we discover that they also gave a great deal of time in order to come to where the new King was.  If Herod read their reports properly, when he ordered the killing of children under two, they must have traveled well over a year to reach Jerusalem in their quest to pay homage to Jesus. Our “instant messaging culture” probably doesn’t know what to make of that sort of patience!

But the gift of time is another gift – perhaps more difficult to give than “things” – which we can give Jesus. It is a gift we can bring by many roads. We might give the time to teach a class; to rehearse music to uplift and encourage us; to visit in hospitals and nursing homes; to prepare a meal for someone in need – everything we do seems to take time. Sometimes, though, we seem unwilling to lend even a little of our “spare time” to Christ’s kingdom.

And in an odd way, this is a give which returns gifts to us! We free ourselves from the slavery to the clock, at least for a bit; and the people we bless become a witness to us, returning the love which our time represents.

Consider the gift of time as one which we may bring to Jesus.

WHAT ACTIVITIES USE MY TIME WITH NO BENEFIT TO ME OR OTHERS?

WHAT ONE NEW WAY CAN I GIVE MY TIME TO CHRIST?

Prayer: O God, you created time itself, and gave it to us. Teach us to use your minutes and hours wisely, as we dedicate them to our Lord Jesus Christ, and the work of His Kingdom. Amen.

Dr. John Clifford