Isaiah 60:1-6

            {Prayer}

            “And going into the house, {the Magi} saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).

            Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Those are some pretty expensive gifts. But add onto them the distance the Magi traveled and the amount of time it took them. Granted, they aren’t getting paid mileage or by the hour to travel to and see Jesus, but still, gold, frankincense, and myrrh are pretty expensive gifts to bring across the desert. Especially if you compare them to what it was the Little Drummer Boy brought to Jesus in the song we just sang. What was it that the drummer boy brought to Jesus? … His playing. The song says, “I have no gift to bring that’s fit to give our king. Shall I play for you on my drum?”

            The Magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The little drummer boy brought his drum and his drumming skills … what is it that can we bring to such a great King? On Christmas Eve I asked the kids … on Jesus’ birthday, we all get presents to open, but what does Jesus get? What does Jesus get from us?

            While the playing of a drum for a king doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, not everyone can do it. Sure, we can all grab a couple of drumsticks and pound on a drum … but that isn’t playing it with glory. And not all of us have gifts like the Magi to bring. So, what is there that we can bring? Even if the things we bring we don’t think of as being much of anything … God’s light transforms even our smallest offerings into something meaningful.

            You see, whether it is gold, frankincense, myrrh, or the beat of a simple drum … it’s not about the size of the gift or how expensive the gift is that makes it meaningful. What gives the gift purpose is the light of Christ. When the drummer boy stood before the King, his humble offering of music didn’t shine on its own, it was illuminated by the presence of Jesus.

            This is the power of Christ’s light. It doesn’t just reveal who He is but it transforms what we bring and who we are. Just as the star led the Magi to the Savior, the presence of Jesus takes even the smallest offering and makes them something glorious. Isaiah spoke of this transformative light long before the Magi started their journey to Bethlehem. Listen again to these words of hope:

 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (60:1-3).

            Isaiah initially is talking to the Israelites in Babylonian captivity who are sitting in darkness. This light shining on them, they didn’t deserve it, they didn’t earn it. It was given to them as a gift. This light of the Lord calls them out of despair and into hope. And now, in Jesus, that light has come to shine. Not just on one nation, but on all people. The light of Jesus transforms even the smallest, humblest of gifts into something fitting for a King.

            But, you know … even knowing that Christ’s light transforms what we bring … don’t we often wrestle with the sense of inadequacy? The Little Drummer Boy says, “I have no gift to bring that’s fit to give our King.” Isn’t that how we feel sometimes? Like what we have to offer isn’t enough? What we have to offer is too small, too ordinary, too insignificant for someone as great as Jesus. In recognizing our sinfulness … don’t we think at times that I’m too small, too ordinary, too insignificant?

            The struggle that we feel isn’t anything new. It’s the same feeling Isaiah’s audience must have felt. Returning home from exile, looking at their broken lives and wondering if they could ever be enough for God’s glory. It’s the same doubt that whispers within our hearts and minds, “What do I have to offer God that really matters?”

            Isaiah speaks of gifts of camels, as well as gold and frankincense being brought to God. And while those do come through the Magi, the first visitors Christ welcomes at the manger are lowly shepherds who bring their praises. The little drummer boy’s drumbeat, though it is simple, it is made beautiful because it is offered to Jesus.

            Our gifts, while they may not be extravagant like the Magi’s but more like the shepherds and the little drummer boy, are still highly valued because of who they are offered too. Jesus came as the only perfect gift and He didn’t come for Himself. No, Jesus came as the perfect gift for you and me. In His light, our gifts, imperfect as they may be, becoming pleasing to God. It’s not about the size of the gift. It’s about the faith and love behind it.

            The truth is, we often wrestle with feelings of inadequacy, but Jesus doesn’t measure the size or the worth of our gifts by worldly standards. Instead, He sees the heart that is behind them. And yet, it’s not just about what we bring but about what He brings to us. Jesus gave Himself, the perfect gift, and His light now transforms us.

Because of this gift, we are called to be bearers of His light. So, how do we respond? Like the Magi, we come and worship Him. Like the shepherds, we joyfully share the good news with others. Like the Little Drummer Boy, we offer what we have, no matter how small. And like Christ, we seek to shine His light in the world around us. But discipleship, following Jesus doesn’t end with these moments … it continues on in our everyday life.

            The challenge for us is to live each day as bearers of Christ light. But how? Well …

            When we live as light bearers, worship is made a priority. Not just as we gather here in church like this but also in our personal lives. When we offer our heart, time, and presence to Jesus, His light shines brighter in our lives.

            We live as light bearers in our words. Like the shepherds, we share the hope that we have within us found in Jesus with others. Maybe it’s as simple as offering a word of encouragement to someone who is struggling, telling someone thank you for the things they do, or inviting a friend to church, Sunday School, Bible Class, or youth group.

            We live as light bearers in our actions. Just as Jesus came to serve and not be served, when we serve others with love and humility, we are reflecting the love of Jesus. Whether it is helping a neighbor, like shoveling their driveway after the snow comes, or volunteering, or standing up for someone in need … your actions can reflect Christ’s presence.

            Remember, the light of Christ within you isn’t dependent on your strength or perfection. The same God who transformed the shepherd’s praises and the drummer boy’s beat into something glorious will work through you. His light shines in your weakness, your struggles, and even in your smallest efforts.

            As we prepare for the days ahead, even if we are stuck at home because of the weather, let us remember … Christ has already given the perfect gift of Himself. In His light, even our smallest gifts become something glorious. So, ask yourself … “What can we bring to such a great King? Where can I let the light of Christ shine in my life?” Maybe it’s in a relationship, a situation at work or school, or even within your family. Trust that as you step forward in faith, the light of Christ will guide you and shine through you.

This Epiphany, let us “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.