God's Provision

Matthew 2:11 – On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (NIV)

When I think of Christmas, I can't help but remember the times in my life when God provided for our family. There was the time when my father broke his leg. The gifts were small that year, and, living on an island, we had a fish dinner — not the traditional turkey — but our needs were met. Then there was the year I was in hospital for two months, and the nurses collected gifts for my Christmas stocking — but the gifts were so plentiful there were enough to fill my brother's stockings too. One year involved a move to find work in another town, leaving my parents' funds in a depleted state. I remember asking, "Mom, will Christmas really come this year?" Mom told us to pray about it, and God moved a lady to send a gift box. Every gift, mittens, slippers, books, and games suited my brothers and me. With our parents' guidance, we gave credit to God for the way He chose to provide and show us love that Christmas.

Yet, when I consider all the aspects of the Christmas story, I shouldn't be surprised at God's provision. The first family, Mary and Joseph, newly married, travelling, and living with the scorn and shame of a pregnancy during betrothal, had no extra provisions either. Yet, God supplied three expensive gifts, gifts fit for a king — the King of kings — gold, frankincense, and myrrh, at the exact moment when Joseph would need extra funds to move his family to Egypt away from King Herod's wrath.

To me, the Christmas story demonstrates two aspects of God's love for us. He loves us enough provide for our physical needs, but more importantly, He loved us enough to give His only Son, Who would grow from the tiny babe in a manger to give His life on a cross in order to provide the way for wayward sinners to be reconciled with His Father, God Almighty.

Prayer: Dear God, when we meditate on the enormity of Your gifts to us, the words seem so inadequate to express what is in our hearts. Please accept our humble "Thank You". Amen.