12 Days of God's Character: The Christmas StorySample

##### Day 7: Honoring Others Generously For many, Christmas is a time of deep, unrelenting celebration overflowing with generosity. Whether you are giving to a charity, giving your time to serve, or giving gifts to those you love - chances are you are giving something around the Holidays. While the western-world has overdone this (with December being one of the months where people spend the most money) - there is something so special about giving around Christmas-time. Why? Perhaps it’s because gifts were even brought to the manger. Have you ever thought about it that way? The same Magi that we discussed yesterday didn’t come to worship baby Jesus empty-handed. They came with gold, frankincense, and myrrh - each a sacrificial gift symbolizing something different. This means that these gifts were intentionally chosen by the Magi (also called Wiseman) for a specific purpose. Crosswalk.com has done a deep dive into these gifts discussed in Matthew 2:11. As they put it, “If you’re wondering what use an infant would have for these gifts, you’re not alone.” Whew, what a true statement!! Can you imagine giving gold to a little baby at the church nursery? And what even is myrrh? Each of the 3 gifts would have had a deep theological meaning to the Jewish people at that time. Gold was a valued element in Biblical times and actually was one of the main measurements of wealth. By bringing gold to the baby Jesus, they honored His royalty and His Kingdom. Frankincense is an aromatic resin that when burned creates a strong and beautiful smell. In this time period, the burning of Frankincense indicated the worship of a god. In this case, the Magi would have been acknowledging Jesus as not only man but God with this gift. And finally, myrrh was another fragrant spice that was often used as perfume or anointing oil. However, most notably, myrrh was used to prepare a body for its burial - thus pointing to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of dying on the cross. Interestingly enough, some scholars believe that the 3 gifts also may have been a prophecy to the Temple of the Lord where Jesus would ultimately tear the veil in the Holy of Holies. After all, you could find all 3 items making a difference in the sacred place. Regardless, these incredible gifts point to one thing: Honor. Jesus was honored well by the Magi, who gave without reproach to the little Baby. So, how does this relate to us today? As silly as it may sound, we can use it to guide our Holiday gift giving!! We, too, can choose to give generously (while also giving responsibly) this season to honor those around us. Who is someone that has deeply impacted you in a unique way this year? Who is someone that has gone without honor? Take a moment to reflect on this and ask the Lord how you can give to them this season. Note, this could be as simple as a handwritten card or paying for their meal. Let the Spirit guide you well!! Amen, amen, amen. Go in faith today and honor those around you!!