Ah The Little Drummer Boy, now here's a sense of some uses of drums. Some people think drums shouldn't be played in a church or be part of Christian music. Some think drums are just bad or rebelious, well they're not. In fact the drummer boy had played a song that was gentle. He did not know what to give the King and thought he might be disruptive, but he wasn't as Mary and joseph agreed to let him play his song.
Playing drums and listening to music with drumming in it is not a bad thing unless your trying to be disruptive and out of control that draws attention away from God. The little drummer boy was not putting on a show or to show off, but simply sharing his gift for the King.
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Come they told me, Pa rum pa pum pum
A newborn King to see, Pa rum pa pum pum
The night was silent, except for the beating of his heart. It seemed so loud to him, he wondered if his traveling companions could hear it too. He was nervous to see a king, but he kept walking, holding tightly to his drum.
His heart was about to beat out of his chest. The others were carrying beautiful boxes filled with precious gifts, gifts worthy of a king. He had nothing but his drum, which suddenly seemed an inappropriate instrument to play for king, not to mention a newborn king. If only he had a more soothing instrument, like the harp the shepherd boys sometimes play.
His heartbeat was deafening as he stood before the King. And then Mary nodded. The King’s mother nodded at him. She actually wanted him to play. He raised his sticks and began to tap the first pattern that came into his head, the rhythm of his beating heart.
And so the Little Drummer Boy gave his heart to God. He played his best. He gave his best.
How often do we feel our gifts are not good enough? We compare ourselves to others, wondering why their gifts seem so much more “useful” for the kingdom. We want to teach like our pastor, or sing like our worship leader. Or maybe we want to share our blessings, but at times, we don’t feel very blessed. We can’t give what we don’t have, but rather than lamenting our lack, we need to look for our “drum,” the one thing that only we can give.
The truth is God already has teaching like the pastor’s. He already has singing like the worship leader’s. And what He wants, what He can really use, is your heart.
Think of how you can bless others this season, and in turn bless God. You don’t have to spend money. You just have to give of yourself, of your heart. Just like the little Drummer Boy. Jesus smiled at him. Think of Jesus smiling at you. Kind of makes your heart race, doesn’t it? Listen.
Questions:
How can you bless God by blessing others this holiday season?
Are you giving your best to God? If not, how could you give your best to him today?
My Answers:
Praying for people, do something nice for others. Not thinking what can we do for ourselves for Christmas, but by putting others first. I try to do the best I can for God in whatever I do for Him, sometimes its hard to keep your spirits up when there's people that want or do knock you down. Whatever our gifts and callings are God tells us to use them to the best of our abillities for Him and sometimes it can help others.
Great read. I agree, we need to always give our best to God and do what pleases Him. We also have to keep in mind that we simply can't make everyone happy all the time, but we can try to put others first and God above all. God knows our hearts and if we are serving Him with all that we have and all that we are, God is pleased. This is the sacrifice of worship that the Bible talks about.