{my graphics are free goodies for you}
They saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. {Matthew 2:11}
This is one of the most famous stories of Christmas. Wise men follow a star to find Jesus. When they arrive, they present Him with valuable gifts. But the true worth came from the love and faith with which they were given.
Some scholars believe that each of these gifts is symbolic. Gold is a gift usually presented to royalty and shows that the wise men acknowledged Christ as their true King. When the wise men gave incense, they recognized the deity of Christ because incense was used in offerings at the temple. Myrrh is a fragrant but bitter substance taken from a tree. This represents the humanness of Christ and the suffering He faced. When Christ was on the cross, He was offered a cup containing myrrh.
Like the wise men, we can offer Jesus what is valuable in our lives. We can also worship Him as our God, honor Him as our King, and thank Him for His suffering on our behalf. What’s a gift you want to give with love and faith to Jesus this Christmas?
XOXO
Holley Gerth
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* This post is part of The Heart of Christmas series we’re going through as we prepare for Christmas. Each message is a short devotional you can read and share in the middle of this busy time of year to help you and those you love stay focused on what matters most—celebrating Jesus! To read all the #heartofchristmas posts, click here.
* Find Books to Encourage Every Woman on Your Christmas List {signed!}
