After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
– Matthew 2:9-12
The Story of the Wise Men
Have you ever received an extravagant gift? Do you remember your reaction to it? Maybe it was a present that you never thought you’d get on Christmas Day as a kid, or someone had an extra concert ticket and asked you to come with them, or maybe someone sent you a meaningful handwritten letter.
When we are unexpectedly given extravagant gifts, we are usually filled with an immense sense of gratitude.
When the wise men followed the star to Jesus, they gave (from a worldly perspective) extravagant gifts, but they also become witnesses and receivers an incomparable extravagant gift. Here’s how they responded to the gift of Jesus:
- They bowed down
- They worshipped
- They gave gifts
Their response is a perfect model for how we come before Jesus. Because Jesus is the gift of God to the world, we do as the wise men did and bow our lives to Him, worship Him, and give Him our talents, time, and treasures.
The wise men brought extravagant gifts to Jesus, only to realize once they arrived that the most extravagant gift there was Jesus! Jesus is the extravagant gift that fills our hearts with an immense sense of gratitude.
Reflect
Pause and take a moment to write down way you’ve been changed by the gift of Jesus in your life. Think about how He came to give His love and grace to you. There is nothing in this world, and no material thing that you can attain that could ever compare to Jesus.
Pray
God, thank You for the gift of Jesus. I bow my life to You, I worship You, and I give You my talents, time, and treasures again. As I think about what You did for me when You came into the world, I am left with overwhelming gratitude. Thank You for Your love and Your mercies that You give day after day. Amen.