Offer Jesus you.

"So, I played for Him, pa rup, pa, pa, pum....."

That Christmas song best descibes the humanity Jesus came to save. The little drummer boy had nothing to offer the baby so he played.... Those who have nothing to offer the Savior are the very ones that can realize all the Kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3, NIV)

I found this note in my mailbox and couldn't help but think of how many people come to the Lord empty handed and Jesus is okay with that. Oh, dear one, whoever you are, you are loved with an incredible love that will never let you go. Rest in the thought that if and when you have nothing to offer but praise and gratitude, then you have offered the Lord your most important gift.

In fact, there are probably many who approach Jesus with all kinds of gifts and self-importance only to one day hear Him say,

"Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

(Matthew 25:41b, NIV)

Nobody wants to ever hear their King says those haunting words.

Think of the first people to hear about the birth in Bethlehem...it was lowly shepherds out on a hillside. Yes, those people tasked with watching sheep and who rarely ever had the means to take care of their hygiene issues. Can you smell them from a mile away? Probably. They slept on the ground around a fire. They were probably unlearned people. They probably had nothing to offer the parents of a newborn "Savior... ....he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11b, NIV). They were probably tough as nails. They were probably endowed with practical knowledge about animal husbandry. They were probably the "jack of all trades; master of none" kind of people. They came anyway and worshiped the baby Jesus. And, they became the first evangelists to talk about Jesus the Lord!

How about you, do you live day to day? Do you feel empty-handed? Are you embarrassed by your low place? Don't be!

In this Advent season, as we await to celebrate Jesus' birth, consider how we will honor the Christ child's birth. Then, consider how we will show our appreciation for His presence in our heart. Worship and adoration are the only two things that really matter to Jesus. If those two things flow out of our hearts, then our lives will become living gifts offered to Jesus everyday. We all have worship and adoration we can offer. Go ahead! Do it!