MBC Tysons Campus Blog

Jesus is on my gift list this year. But, I’m facing the age-old Christmas dilemma: What do you get someone who has everything? In his case, he literally has it all. And, even what he has, he doesn’t really need, like Bentleys or splendid homes on the Riviera.

Blog-talk aside, Jesus is on my list because there is something that he doesn’t yet have, namely, all of me. That’s just another way of saying that I have things that he doesn’t want me to have. So, I’ve decided to give the Lord Jesus the useless – even harmful – things in my life. He loves those kinds of gifts. Here’s a starter list of some of those things:

1. Get rid of elephants in the mind. Those elephants won’t go away because the Spirit of Jesus keeps bringing to the forefront desires and attitudes that are in my mind that he wants to go away. Earlier this month, I wrote in my journal:

“List every thought, behavior, action, attitude, words…everything that my conscience tells me is wrong. The great majority of those things, if not all, is God the Holy Spirit speaking to me. If that is the case – and it is – then I must obey and right the wrong. I obey because I love the Lord…”

 2. Attack problems, not people. Do you know what I did this morning? As I was reading the Bible, I looked up and saw a small fly resting on one of the petals of a beautiful bunch of flowers sitting in the middle of the table in the sunroom. I slowly got the fly swatter and BAM! I took a swing at the fly. Where the fly went, I have no idea. But, half of the beautiful flowers went flying through the air. That’s easy to do when dealing with people who are – regardless of problems they have or cause – of great beauty to God. Wounding a person – even mentally or attitudinally – with malice or slander, under the guise of fixing their problem, is not allowed and has to go.

3. Let go of good things that atrophy the best. “Brother, it’s a sin for you not to preach!” So said a delightful, senior African-American, former preacher himself, as we fellowshipped in the lobby before the start of a service. He chided with a smile, and I knew he was right. Considering the dearth of Bible knowledge in our society, as a seminary graduate, former church-planting missionary, former Dean of a Graduate School, along with many other Christian work and life experiences, I should be teaching God’s Word on a weekly basis. I’m taking good things out of my life to build up the best.

The supremacy of Christ
On the one hand, talking about giving to Jesus what is already his is ludicrous. After all, “you are not your own, you are bought with a price.” On the other hand, it’s the highest act of worship I can give, as God’s Word says, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” The supremacy of Christ is at the core of all gifts offered to the one who is Lord of all.

I want to give my gifts to Jesus this year. He won’t be surprised, because he’s been telling me what he wants on that list.