Matthew 2:11 ‘And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh”.
DAILY READING – Acts 13:26-52; Joshua 20-21; Job 30
There is a unique aspect of the Christmas story, found only in the Gospel of Matthew. It is the account of the “Magi” from the East who brought gifts to baby Jesus.
The term “Magi” is ultimately a Persian word that referred to a special class of priests in the Persian empire.
They were the professors and philosophers regarded as “Wise Men” of their day.
They were highly educated scholars who were trained in medicine, history, religion and prophecy. They were also trained in astronomy which is the science of the study of the stars.
When they saw the star that foretold the birth of Jesus, they dropped everything to go in search of this new King.
They embarked on a journey of a thousand miles on camels from Persia to Israel, following the star.
They believed so much in the prophecy of the birth of Christ that they travelled upwards of 900 miles to Jerusalem to see him.
Like Queen of Sheba from the South going to visit King Solomon to discover his wisdom (1 Kings 10), the wise men traveled from the East to see the wisdom of God, in the person of Christ Jesus..
The wise men not only left their homes and affairs for months to travel to Jerusalem, they also took a risk of being killed by king Herod, when they came to his palace enquiring about a new born King.
When they finally found baby Jesus, they presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts were not only expensive, but also significant and symbolic.
Gold represented the wealth and power of a king. Frankincense was used in the temple worship of the Lord. Then myrrh–a kind of perfume made from the leaves of the cistus rose, symbolized Jesus’ suffering and death.
John 19:39 tells us that when Jesus died, His ’body was bound in linen wrappings along with 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes.
It is indeed remarkable and noteworthy that the “Magi” who were prominent and wise men of their nation, risked everything to seek and worship Christ the king.
Truly, no cost is too high for us to pay in seeking and worshipping our Lord.
Jesus deserves our every praise.
As we celebrate Christmas, let us pause and ask ourselves, what gifts we have brought for our king who has done so much for us. Can you imagine what our lives would have been like if Christ hadn’t come to the earth. We would have been lost, hopeless, miserable and condemned to eternal damnation. But Christ came and redeemed us and today has made all the difference in our lives. Truly, He deserves the best and highest we can offer.
Presenting our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice will be a worthy present.
Romans 12:1 says ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.’
Christ will be pleased when we gift Him with a life focused and centered on pleasing Him. John 4:23 says God is seeking for worshippers in spirit and in truth.
Let us therefore decide today to present to Christ the re-dedication of our lives to His service. Indeed giving our lives wholly to Him would be a worthy gift to offer in worship to our king in this season.
PRAYER: Father, I thank You for the amazing gift You have given to us through the birth of Christ. In appreciation of Your gift, please grant me the grace to live a life that constantly pleases You and glorifies You always in Jesus name. .
QUOTE;
Praise is proof that you believe God to do what He said, He would do in your life, – WORDBITE 201.
Shalom!
@GOODHEART- EKWUEME .
PLS FEEL FREE TO SHARE IF THIS BLESSES YOU!🔥
(I would love to hear your testimonies via WhatsApp +2348052234444 / Email: apostlegoodheart@gmail.com)