It is declared that the spirit of Christmas is the spirit of giving. We read concerning the wise men that they brought gifts and presented them to the newborn King of Israel. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold is the king of metal and is an appropriate gift for one born to be the king of men. This new king was to rule, not by force, but by love with equity and justice.

They brought gifts of frankincense, which is a gift appropriate for a priest, Christ was to be the high priest who would open the way to God for sinners. He was to be the bridge builder by which we could come into the presence of God and by which God in love would invade our lives. The wise men brought a gift of myrrh, which is a gift for one who is to die. Myrrh was used to embalm, to anoint the bodies of the dead. Even at the cradle of Christ there is the awareness of a cross at the end of the way. Jesus Christ was to be the true King, the perfect Priest, the Supreme Saviour.

It was not the wise men who started the practice of giving gifts at Christmas it was God who gave. It is appropriate for us to take note of these gifts for the king, but let us not forget the great gifts that come from the King.

Jesus Christ is the one who God has appointed to be our King.

a. He offers to us the free gift of forgiveness. Our part is to repent and turn from a life of evil and self-destruction.
b. He offers to us the gift of eternal life. He gives us this out of the generosity of the Father God (Romans 6:23).
c. He offers to us sonship in the family of God (John 1:12).
d. He offers us guidance through the difficulties and perplexities of life (John 8:12).
e. He assures us of fruitfulness and significance if we will abide in Him (John 15:5-9).
f. His will is that we be with Him forever (John 17:24).
g. He has given us the Holy Spirit to be our guide. The Holy Spirit will be our teacher and helper throughout all of the journey on our earthly life (Luke 11:13, John 14:16-18).

These precious gifts of God that come to us through the One who was born to be our King are perfect, precious, permanent and personal.