Where’s The Frank -n- Sense?

Permission to speak frankly—and with common sense…

Smallness on the inside keeps us from doing big, significant things for others.

Herod was the big man on campus, the king. He was loud, brash and intimidating. He was consumed with making a bigger name for himself—not by giving to others but by taking from them.

Herod was tiny on the inside. He was a wee little man.

Insecure. Afraid. Paranoid.

When Jesus was born, Herod was asking: “What if Jesus takes my big man on campus position?”

It’s easy to get lost in the “What ifs” of life. Unfortunately, the “What ifs” keep us small on the inside; they prevent us from doing big, significant things for others.

The wise guys, on the other hand, were big on the inside.

We’re not even told their names in Scripture and we don’t know much about them.

When Jesus was born, the wise guys were asking: “How can we bless, honor and give to this newborn King?”

They travelled far with gifts for baby Jesus—gold, frankincense and myrrh. The wise guys didn’t get stuck asking all the “What ifs”…

What if we get lost?

What if we get robbed?

What if Jesus’ family isn’t grateful?

What if they waste the gifts we brought?

No—the wise guys didn’t bother with all the “What ifs”.

In confident trust, they came to bless, honor, worship and give.

People have always wondered what happened to the gold that was given to Jesus. Scripture doesn’t mention it, but there are a two prominent legends…

One story says that the criminals crucified with Jesus were lifelong thieves who, decades earlier, had stolen the gold from Jesus’ family. Another story says the gold was invested and later used to fund Jesus’ ministry—and Judas, as treasurer, misappropriated the money.

Notice: both stories are bad news. They affirm our “What if” questioning.

The reality is—we live in a bad news world.

But we are Good News people!

Good News people are big on the inside.

Good News people don’t get hung up on all the “What if” questions in life.

Good News people, in confident trust—come to bless, honor, worship and give.

Good News people do big, significant things for others.

__________________

Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! (Hebrews 10.35 NLT)

Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting is the way. (Luke 6.38 MSG)