Together - Daily DevotionalSample

Wise Men

Reading: Matt.2:1-12

Key Verse: “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh ” v.11

The Magi or wise men are an important part of the Christmas story. Traditionally there were three wise men but we are not told of their actual number, only that they brought three gifts and the presumption is there was one gift each. In fact we could ask the question, “How many gifts did the wise men present to baby Jesus”? The answer is not the three of gold, incense and myrrh but four gifts. You see before they even “opened their treasures”, they “bowed down and worshipped him”. Before the physical gifts of presenting their treasures they presented the spiritual gift of themselves. 

No matter how wise or wealthy we are, the very first gift to present to Jesus is ourselves. One famous Christmas carol contains these lines, “What can I give Him, Poor as I am. If I were a shepherd, I would bring Him a Lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. So what can I give Him - I'll give Him my heart”. Rich or poor, wise or foolish, young or old we can all present the same gift as the Magi – ourself.

Prayer: Jesus, I present my own special gift to you today – myself