The gift-giving is probably one of the most anticipated events at Christmas. As you read this devotion today, you might be thinking about getting gifts for others. So, why do we give gifts at Christmas? Some people believe that gift-giving at Christmas started when the wise men gave gifts to baby Jesus when they followed the star from the East to Bethlehem (2:1-12). Interestingly, the Bible doesn't tell us how many wise men gave gifts to Jesus. The tradition believed it was three wise men because three gifts were given, but there was no reference in the Bible that they were three wise men. But what are the gifts that were given to Jesus, and what were they represented? The gold represented Jesus as the royal King (adoration), the frankincense represented Jesus as the Son of God (worship), and the myrrh represented Jesus as the Servant of God (death and mourning). The three gifts that were given represented the whole nature of our Lord Jesus. He came as the promised King who was going to rule in our hearts. He came as the Son of God that we may believe and worship Him, and He came as the Servant who died for our sins to save us.
The wise men from the east traveled at least 1,000 miles to bring the gifts to Jesus, and the only thing that was guiding them was the star that God provided them. Despite the danger and exhaustion, they never gave up but kept on moving forward until they arrived at their destination. Their main purpose was to worship Jesus with their giving. Matthew 2:11 says, "On coming to the house, 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, frankincense and myrrh." If the gift-giving began with the wise men, then the center of our gift-giving should be to worship our Lord Jesus at Christmas.
Let us take time to thank and worship our Lord Jesus this Christmas. It is healthy in our hearts and minds to find a quiet time and be still for a moment to thank and praise our God for all the good things that He has done in our lives.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you). What can I learn from the wise men? Who should be the center of our Christmas celebrations? Am I willing to take a time or a moment to stop and be still to thank and worship my God this Christmas season?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for loving me by sending my Lord Jesus to save me from my sins. Lord Jesus, thank you for everything that you have done in my life. Please help me to take a time and a moment this Christmas to sit still and thank and worship you this Christmas. In your name, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.