In Matthew, we see the magi seeking the King of the Jews. Matthew 2:9-11 v.9. When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the yound child was. v.10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. v.11. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Notice that Matthew tells us that they had great joy, when they saw Him. Oh how great it is to not only see Jesus, but to know Him as our personal Saviour from sin. They laid before Him three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These three special gifts have so much to do with us today for they represent three aspects of the life of Jesus on this Earth and three aspects of our lives to Him.

The gold tells us of the Lordship of Jesus the Christ. The wise men knew who He was and still is today. The Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Paul tells us that "Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." Now, how do we acknowledge this gift of gold to Jesus in our lives? Thomas, in John 20:26-29, shows us exactly what to do. John 20:26-29 v.26. And after eight days his disciples were again inside and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" v.27. Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. v.28. And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" v.29. Jesus said to Him, "Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

This gift applies to the perfect and holy life that Jesus lived. Paul says, "He that knew no sin became sin that we might be the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousnessof God in Him. Our gift is to live a life worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ. James tells us in his letter: James 3:17-18 v.17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. v.18. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. How fitting to please our Lord with a pure heart and life, for Him!

This gift reprsents the death of God's Son to take away the sin of the world. The sacrafice above all, and yet this is why Christ was born: to die and be a ransom for many. What is our myrrh for the Risen Saviour? Paul tells us in: Galations 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. To count for Jesus is to allow Him to live through us. What a blessed package of gifts! Merry Christmas, Pastor Gary

1. “The Lord is my shepherd.” • Christ knocked on the door to my heart, called to me and invited me into His fold. Don’t get me wrong, He’s knocking on many doors to many hearts. He’s been doing this to me, and many, many others for a long time now, but this time I stopped to really listen and it was then that I heard (and recognized?) the voice of my Master, my Lord and my God, and went to Him. I was the proverbial “lost sheep”, wandering around aimlessly in a world of sin, stumbling from one depressing moment to another, defeated. Although I’m still in a world of sin I’m not IN sin. I am a sinner saved by the Grace of God. I have brothers and sisters in Christ in the same situation and together our flock is strong. Together we are victors in Christ, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. 1. “I shall not want.” • He takes care of my every need, provides for me even before I know or realize that I need it. If I’m meant to have something, then I’ll have it. If not, then I won’t. “What’s for me won’t go by me” is a saying that we had in Scotland. If God doesn’t think it necessary in our lives, then why should we still yearn for it? Oh, I know that it’s because of our lustful hearts, that we just HAVE to have that......... whatever it is. However, our Father in Heaven can see more of what’s further down the road for us, we can’t. That THING that we just HAD to have is just what Satan needs to distract us from our goal, it’s just enough to entice us from our walk with Christ, yet another reminder (or red flag) that our focus should ALWAYS be on Christ. 2. “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” • This is the God who in Psalm 139 verses 13 and 16 we are reminded that He “created my innermost being” and “knit me together in my mothers womb.” (NIV). The King James version puts it more poetically by saying, “For thou has possessed my reins: thou hast covered my in my mothers womb”. It goes on to say “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect”. How could our Lord NOT know when we need rest, that we need to be lifted up and comforted when we’re weary and feel that the whole world is dumping on us? 2. “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” • He takes us to a place of quiet, and calm where we can shut out the world. “But there’s a place I can go where I know you’ll be, I just close my eyes and let your love, take hold of me” (John Elefante: Home With a View - from the album Defying Gravity). It’s a place where we can listen to Him. Look at 1st Kings 19: 11-13, Elijah finally heard the Lords voice as a quiet whisper, He’s inviting us to take the time to be with Him, to talk with Him, to share our concerns, our victories with Him. Sure, He knows all about them already, but let me ask you this? Take our own children - how much do we already know of their experiences, their concerns, their lives, but how much comfort do we take when they confide in us, when they share their thoughts, their concerns, their victories? We are His children, shouldn’t we do the same? Actually, let me amend that - we SHOULD do the same! “Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer”. Stop and listen for the quiet voice of our Father in heaven, feel His love take hold of you. It’s a touch that no man, woman, husband, wife or even a child for that matter can equal. His touch reaches down to the very depth of your soul. How many of us have felt that touch? The sensation of the purest joy, so much so that you weep uncontrollably. 3. “He restoreth my soul.” • Pretty simple, isn’t it? But it’s often as a result of our straying, yes even times when we’re feeling down or trodden upon, but look at the next portion of this verse. 3. “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” • Like the good Father (in Heaven) that He is, he corrects us. He guides us. We have His gift of freedom of choice, we can choose to stay on His “paths of righteousness”, but we can also choose to stray. There are times when Satan places a fork in the road and we blindly stumble upon it, and it’s at this point we have another choice: do we stay on it or do we seek God and ask Him to lead us onto His path again and seek the wisdom of what we’ve learned from that experience. No parent wants to see their child stray down the wrong path. How often do we try to steer them down the “straight and narrow” path only to watch them stray onto one of those forks in the road. How much does it break our hearts when we realize, or finally give in to the fact, that they must go down that path to learn from it, that we can’t stop them because they are bound and determined to do it “their way” because they “know what’s best for them!” But we’re there for them, aren’t we, just as the prodigal son’s father was there waiting for him, just as God, our Father is always, and will always be there for us. 4. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” • It’s a scary world out there, isn’t it? You never know what you’re going to encounter from one day to the next, from one minute to the next. Just look at what happened recently at Virginia Tech? However, with the presence of God always by our side, what have we to fear? Romans 8:13 states, “What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us who can be against us?” It’s not really in our nature to trust in anyone, let alone God, we tend to rely on ourselves more and want to be in the drivers seat. Take that leap of faith, trust in the Lord. • A shepherd would guard his flock by lying across the entrance of the fold. Here we have another picture of Christ laying down His life for us, but the picture I have in mind is that of Christ before us in the valley, His rod and staff at the ready. 5. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.” • What an invitation! To sit at the Lord’s table, share a meal with Him, converse with Him and to be under His protection while all our enemies are encircled all about us. We’re not just His guests, but His friends. We often make the mistake of declaring that Christ is our friend, by doing so we’re bringing Him down to our level. In fact we’re His friend, at His invitation. 6. “Surely Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” • It sounds as though we’ll be blessed for the rest of our days, doesn’t it? Well, we will, but not without trials and troubles. We need them! Nobody wants them, but how else are we to learn and grow in Christ. How else will we learn to let Him lead, to trust Him, to lean on Him? We’ll still be journeying over the peaks and deep down in the valleys. We’ll still fall, but the Lord will be there. Picture it: “Down again Duncan? Here, take my hand” He pulls you up, looks into your eyes with the purest love, compassion and knowing. “You look weary,” He says, “come to my house where it’s quiet, sit on the grass by the pool, collect your thoughts. While you do that I’ll prepare the table so we can eat and do some catching up. After all, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Duncan Fraser - May 2007.