Kingdom Living: December 2007 Archives

I had wanted to add my .02 cents worth on the essence of Christmas, but I realize that countless others would be trying to do this.

There's really nothing wrong with writing about one's thoughts on Christmas, but it can be a bit worn-out for the average reader.

So allow me to just direct you to a story I found in CNN. This, I believe, is the essence of Christmas. Go ahead and read it here. Please feel free to comment here about the story.

Meanwhile, do have a joyous Christmas!

Last week, as part of my job as guidance counselor, I asked a female high school freshman to come into my office so I could ask her about her class. Although already in the afternoon, she came with hair obviously newly-combed, her uniform tidied up and a refreshing perfume that I noticed right away.

As I finished talking with her, I asked her about her perfume and she named a brand and then I complimented her for her choice. Long after she left my office, the scent of her perfume lingered.

I then started to remember the story in the Bible of the woman who poured expensive perfume on Jesus. My, how the scent of that perfume must have lingered long after the woman left! I then thought, "Does the scent of my offering to God linger?"

What can make the scent of my offering to God linger? Would it be the costliness of my offering? Would it be tears shed as I give my offering? Would it be something extra akin to the woman wiping Jesus' feet with her hair?

Then a verse in the Book of Psalms answered: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Ps 51:17 NIV).

It is the brokenness of our hearts poured out to God that makes the scent of our offering linger. It is the heart that can shamelessly cry out to God: "Lord, I need you more than anything in this world! Fill me, consume me, mold me! Make me more like you!"

In emptying our hearts before the Lord, he then fills us with his essence, so that we may in turn be a sweet aroma for him unto the world.