First Saturday in Advent

Don’t Play the Jerk

Armed with copious amounts of glue, glitter, and a slightly awkward school picture, children cut, paste and sparkle their way to Christmas presents. Come Christmas morning, family members the world over laud angel ornaments that stare back at them with the faces of their little ones. Or they accessorize their Christmas sweaters with dry-pasta necklaces. Even the trendiest willingly wear food as jewelry. 

 Do you treasure the gifts that reveal a person’s love for you? 

 When my husband was a child, his parents asked him and his brother to choose a toy from their own closets to give away in a toy drive. The boys returned a few minutes later with full hands. My husband’s brother brought his finest toy: His “truck and man”—a pickup truck adorned with a trailer and manned by a G.I. Joe-like driver. That choice represented the newest, shiniest, most cherished of his toy chest. But my husband’s choice stood in stark contrast. He offered a broken toy no longer new, shiny, or cherished. Today my husband dubs this event “a cheerful giver versus the jerk.” 

 And in that, my husband (who is now quite generous) imitated Israel in the time of Malachi. The prophet had the fun task of relaying to the Israelites that they “played the jerk.” The priests made sacrifices; but with every lame animal, Israel exposed their own apathy toward God. Instead of expressing affection, they gave to the Lord in contempt, and considered even that a burden. In response God pronounced a clear verdict: “I am not pleased with you” (1:10).  

 Would perfect sacrifices have pleased God if the people still laid them on the altar in disdain? Of course not. With their begrudging sacrifices God's people insisted on profaning the name of their king instead of praising it. 

 This won’t do. God reminded the leaders of his chosen people that a day would arrive when the gentile nations would outdo his children: “Incense and pure offerings will be offered in my name everywhere, for my name will be great among the nations” (v. 11). 

 The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus allow us the privilege of offering pleasing sacrifices to the Lord. And the author of Hebrews encourages God’s children to do just that: “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God” (Heb. 13:15). 

 What we give with our hands signifies what we hold in our hearts. Pasta necklaces are only as valuable as the love that motivates their making. 

 What do you hold in your heart? Do you need to cultivate a love for God that creates a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord?  — Kelsey Hency

Prayer: 

Lord, forgive me for all of the times I have chosen not to love you and praise your name. I desire to please you. I long to praise your name instead of profane it. Please create in me a heart of ever-growing love for you so that I may give back to you a pleasing sacrifice. Your character is great and praise is due only to you. Thank you for providing the most pleasing sacrifice of all, your Son. In his name I pray, Amen. 

Memory Verse: “For from the east to the west my name will be great among the nations. Incense and pure offerings will be offered in my name everywhere, for my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord who rules over all” (Mal. 1:11).

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead

And his kingdom will have no end.

Photo credit:Sharon McCutche on Unsplash