Day 22: Three Gifts

Welcome to our 25 day Advent study and Advent Calendar which we are preparing through November to be able to use in December.   Each day has a Bible Study related to Advent, a worship video, a passage telling the Christmas Story and a Bible verse to ise on your Advent Calendar.  You can download the PDF with today's study and verses here.

Advent Study
“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 and of incense and of myrrh.”    Matthew 2:11

Not much is known about these Magi (also called wise men). We don’t know where they came from, or how many there were. Tradition says they were men of high position. They traveled very far to see the King of the Jews and when they found him they responded with joy, worship and gifts. This is a different approach than most make today. Most people expect God to come looking for them to explain himself, to prove who He is and to give us gifts.

The three gifts that were given were symbols, gifts given to someone of importance. Gold was more valuable then than now; frankincense was sacred incense and myrrh was used to scent anointing oils. All were very special gifts for a king. Perhaps we can follow the direction of the magi and give only three gifts to our loved ones. A threesome gift idea is to give one prized, one practical and one gift of time.

Prayer
Father, thank you reminding me of the treasures you have bestowed upon me. Help me to worship You with joy, love and the gift of my obedience. Amen.

Ponder
The magi gave of their time, money and energy to find the King and to bow down and worship Him. Do you put in as much effort in your walk with Jesus as the Magi did?



Worship Video

Christmas Story
Matthew 2:7-8
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”


Bible Verse
Matthew 2:8
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”


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