Friday, December 4, 2020

FMF: Present

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11, NIV)

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6, NIV)



On a table in my living room sit two pieces of art created by kids.  Last year, my older son presented me with ceramic bowls he made in a pottery class, and a few years before that my younger son presented me with a wire sculpture he made. They are both blue, and they were both presented to me as gifts, but they bear no other similarities.

In the old testament, believers were given precise instructions as to what they were to present to God.  Grain, oil, and animals were some of the items presented to God.  But even then, the law made allowances. If a person did not have one thing, another could be presented to God in its place.

Though the way we make offerings to God has changed, He still only expects us to present Him with what we have.  Like my children, God does not compare our gifts to others' gifts.  I would not have criticized my son's sculpture because it was not a bowl any more than I would have rejected my other son's bowl because it was not a sculpture. The beauty of giving to God is that He only asks us to present to Him what He has already given to us.



This post is a prompt from Five Minute Friday and was written in approximately five minutes. For more information, visit fiveminutefriday.com.

5 comments:

  1. I'm your neighbor this week at FMF, such a treat to visit your blog, it's a beautiful reminder that we are all unique and special - with our own gifting's to give to God. And it's special that your kids gave you those gifts - one day I'm sure they will be of sentimental value. Aliyah, at number 14

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is a really good word: God only expects us to present to him what we have, not what others have. The example of your kids' gifts is so helpful in reminding us of God's grace in accepting our humble offerings.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful! Such an important reminder that God wants us to give to Him from our heart, and not to compare, He sees each gift as beautiful.
    FMF #17

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm not sure if what I have
    to give is worthy of the Lord;
    will He frown, give scornful laugh,
    and smack me with flat of His sword?
    My words are best I can provide,
    and kindness to His canine friends,
    but sometimes I'd like to hide
    when it seems like He intends
    to honour those who build catherdals
    in what had been a sports arena,
    sees them to dine on fancy vittles
    while my menu's getting meaner.
    I hope and pray that I am wrong,
    that I'm included in His song.

    ReplyDelete