Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Matthew 2:10-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

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Reflect

I am returning to the subject of joy today. The reason I chose this scripture is because it is about the season; and, well, to be honest, because today is my birthday. So what better passage than the birth of Jesus and about the gifts presented to Him and the joy everyone experienced? The birth of a child brings joy and promise for the future. Everyone wants to do better, be better, to make the future better, and to try to eliminate in the coming days, weeks, months, and years any bad (evil) we may have experienced. I wonder if the Magi, being Gentiles, knew the gifts they were bringing would hold a double meaning for the Christ Child. Did the Magi know their significance when they presented them? Gold for a king, frankincense for His divinity, and myrrh for the anointing at his sacrificial death. Along with all the joy comes intrigue in the last verse. Herod was on the lookout for the Magi to return. They had to find a new way back home to avoid him. Now we see the stage being set for the drama that continued throughout the earthly life of Jesus.

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Pray

God, I thank You for the wonderful gift of Jesus, the Christ Child, and what He did for me.

Go with God!