One Christmas, some friends gave me four distinctive mugs. But I didn’t like them.
So, I rewrapped them and gave to another couple the next day.
Unfortunately, my friends turned up by chance while this other couple were opening them. Even worse, I was there, too.
Embarrassing.
Jesus was the first person to receive Christmas presents. The Three Wise Men bought him gold, frankincense and myrrh.
These three amigos intrigue me. Christians lovingly embrace them as part of an airbrushed nativity scene.
But scripture shows they were unwitting agents of the devil.
They were astrologers and were used by Satan to infiltrate the Messiah’s birth in an attempt to kill him.
Their visit led to an unspeakable act of genocide. God had to intervene with a dream to save his only son from premature death.
Gold, frankincense and myrrh? The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy …
This view doesn’t play well at the nativity service.
But it shows the danger of being beguiled with gifts rather than loving the giver.
And it emphasises importance of using discernment. The enemy appears as an angel of light. He may come bearing gifts.
But destruction is never far away.