A University o f Michigan professor and a great linguist (W ycliffe) writes about three Christmas words
Gold, Frankincense,
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of Christ. And it should be fra grant; it should be attractive and sweet and pure and pleasant. John 12:3 gives us an example of frankincense, “ Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.” Mark 14:9 tells us more, “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached through out the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” What had she done? She’d used some costly ointment for Christ, and our frankincense is costly too. A joyful face when we don’t feel joyful costs a lot. A happy disposi tion, a gentle disposition, have to be bought; they don’t just happen. All these things are costly but they bring with them the fragrance of Christ, and we can present this precious perfume to Him. Myrrh — death. “ For I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both angels and men” (1 Cor. 4:9, ARV). “ I protest by that glorying in you, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31, ARV). There’s no hope in this world of dying once and having the battle over. Many’s the p e r s on who thought that he’d surrendered all, that he’d put all on the altar, but when he woke up the next morning he found that he had to die again that day too. He must die daily to desires, die daily to difficulties, to disagreements, to misunderstand ings. Dying daily, he accepts the will of God and the struggle to travel the straight, narrow and stony path. And he accepts that
melting pot as a bit of gold, instead of something that will be washed away unfinished? Will we have frankincense to offer Him? S e c ond Corinthians 2:15 (Weymouth) tells us that “we are a fragrance of Christ.” We are the perfume of Christ — some of us. Verse 14 tells us, “ But to God be the thanks who in Christ ever leads us in His triumphal procession, dis playing everywhere through us the sweetness of the knowledge of Him.” T h a t ’ s the frankincense which we can offer to Him, a life which is fragrant with the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, gen tleness. As we are, so is the aroma
t h e y came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankin cense and myrrh” (Matt. 2:11, ARV). That’s what the wise men gave the Lord. What will we place at His feet? When we stand before our Lord and when it’s our turn to open our treasure chests, will we find them empty? Or will we find in them gold or f rankincense or myrrh? What is the gold which is of fered to our Lord? What is it that we give to Him? Gold is solid and durable, dedicated to beauty, the result of labor, the coinage of hard work, the medium of exchange. What is frankincense? If we were to take that from our .treasure chest and offer it to our Lord, what would we be offering? It’s a per fume, a fragrant life. It’s character that gives the perfume to a life. It’s joy which others have seen and have been encouraged by. It’s love applied in service to others. It’s peace and gentleness. All these are the things which make up the aroma of a lovely Christian spirit. And myrrh . . . it is death. It is heartbreak, hopes smashed, sur render to do what we don’t want to do, hardship accepted as from the hand of God. It is suffering for Christ’s sake. Gold represents a job completed. (Our Lord Himself shouted, “ It is finished!” when His work had been completed.) Everytime I’m in a place for any length of time, I set up a program for myself. Almost never does the Lord let me finish every thing I plan, but a little while be fore it is too late, I stop and say, “ Now, Lord, isn’t there something I can finish before moving on?” Something that can go into the
W a n y 2 > a y * ?
How many days till Christmas ? My little one wants to know; And I think o f a sinsick world That cried out long ago: How many days till Christmas ? When will our waiting cease ? When will our glad hearts welcome The promised Prince of Peace ? In the song of a host of angels: "This day your Lord is born.” But to those who need a Saviour This question rings out anew: How many days till Christmas, When Christ will be born in you ? •— Verna S. Teemvissen The answer came to shepherds One solemn, starlit morn,
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