1 Samuel 20:20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.

I remember at time in my Christian walk when sin was described to me as missing the mark. It bothered me that sin should be so casually described. For my part I ignored the greater issue, not accuracy but rather aim.

Imagine if you will being at a target range. Gun or bow, whichever you can picture in your mind best. You have your target in front of you. It is your target. The range targets are side by side and hitting someone else’s target might score well for them, but you have missed your target.

In the Army our targets were placed in front of sand dunes. If you missed your target you knew if you missed left, right, high or low, because the sand would fly. It helped to adjust our aim, but the intent had always been to aim and hit the target. If we should swing out guns from down range so that the barrel was pointed at anything other than the target, there was always someone there to stop us and make us get control of our weapon.

This is the issue of the aim of love. As long as you are aiming at love, hitting the target is nothing more than adjusting for the miss. It isn’t a sin to try, it is a sin to aim anywhere but at love.

Psalm 4:2 O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah. (NASB)

Not love as the world knows it, but the love that dwells within you, aimed, out, towards the object of affection, towards people in a lost and dying world.

You do not at love, you aim with love.

Matthew 2:11c they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

The three wise men presented baby Jesus with these three gifts. It is once again time to visit upon the meaning of gifts. Don’t we all want to present meaningful gifts to our children? So we will look at these.

Gold the most precious of metals was not used in common trade and barter systems of the times. The ability of the poor to obtain and protect gold was impossible. Metaphorically it means the brilliance of the heavens, the bright and morning star. Ref. Revelations 22:16

Frankincense is a white resin used as an element of the holy incense within the temple ceremonial burning. This represents the prayers offered up to God. Ref. Revelation 8:4

Myrrh is a pungent gum with a root meaning to wrap or cover, it was used often in preparation of the dead for burial. Its purpose was cover up or hide the stench of death. Ref. Isaiah 25:7,8

These were three meaningful gifts which spoke directly to the royal birth, the life of faith and the covering of sins due to His death. Those were meaningful but not very practical for a new born.

Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

These impractical gifts for a child gave Joseph and Mary the resources to obey the angels bidding without undue stress on them during those days.

Genesis 22:8a And Abraham said, My son, God will provide

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.