I shared some reflections a few weeks ago. Although I've been a Bible learner and disciple of Christ for many years, I do not yet have this walk figured out. It's filled with missteps and mistakes, and even when I re-read some of my prior posts, I can see how I could have represented the truth more fully and adequately. It is humbling to know that God still brings truth even in our tiny bit of understanding.
Today, we start a Bible study I've refused to write for months. It is a chapter out of my dark soul and a testament to the bright communion God showed me over a long, swarthy night. I know I need to sit still and get some of the messy, messy work God has graciously done down on paper. I dread it and welcome it all in one.
No matter how you choose to celebrate Christ this season, let the Messiah–not the mayhem–reign in your heart. May you be richly blessed in Him!
Read: Matthew 2:11—12
11 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.12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Reflect: The magi brought a sacrifice to the child, Jesus. Gold represents Christ’s divinity; frankincense aligns with His priestly role; myrrh speaks of His death and embalming. When worshipping the Lord, consider meditating on His deity, His righteousness, and the death sentence He paid for you.
Respond: God, in Hebrews 13:15, it says for us to continually bring the sacrifice of praise through Jesus. Help the fruit of my lips to openly profess Your name. I want you to receive the treasures of my heart.
Tot Time: Explain to the children that one of the reasons we give gifts at Christmas is because that is what the magi did for Jesus. It is better for us to give a gift, than it is for us to get a gift. Ask them, “What gifts can you make or give to others this year?”
No matter how you choose to celebrate Christ this season, let the Messiah–not the mayhem–reign in your heart. May you be richly blessed in Him!
Read: Matthew 2:7—8
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 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.”
Reflect: Herod had a scheme to thwart the King of the Jews and thought he was being pretty sly by saying he wanted to go and worship Him. Psalm 94:11 says, “The Lord knows all human plans, He knows that they are futile.” Even when our heart plans good, we need to recognize that our “brilliant” ways are fruitless in God’s eyes. Instead, let’s commit our ways to the Lord and trust in Him (Psalm 37:5).
Respond: Wise King, no matter how smart I think I am, help me realize it is worthless unless it is from You. Your plan is best, and I don’t want to just ask you to bless the plan I have devised in my own heart. I realize my heart is deceitfully wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and I desperately need your wisdom and direction.
Tot Time: Ask your children these questions: Do you think King Herod really wanted to worship Jesus? Why would he want to hurt Jesus? Talk about jealousy and how this can keep us from true happiness.
No matter how you choose to celebrate Christ this season, let the Messiah–not the mayhem–reign in your heart. May you be richly blessed in Him!
Read: Matthew 2:1—6
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’
Reflect: King Herod wasn’t fond of the idea of a competing king–particularly a Jew. Furthermore, when he asked about where He was born, the chief priests and teachers of the law quoted the prophecy from Micah–yet those priests and teachers didn’t choose to go and worship. When we hear the Word, may our hearts be obedient!
Respond: Father, You have arranged my life down to the nanosecond and you’ve surrounded me with promises throughout Your Word to bring me encouragement and comfort. Help me to meditate on those truths so that when You call me to act, I am obedient.
Tot Time: Read Matthew 2:6 again. It says that Jesus will be a shepherd to people. Ask the children, “What is a shepherd? How does God shepherd your own life?”
No matter how you choose to celebrate Christ this season, let the Messiah–not the mayhem–reign in your heart. May you be richly blessed in Him!
Read: Matthew 2:1—2
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Reflect: We know little about these magi (wise men). While they came bearing three gifts, that doesn’t mean there were only three magi. We can gather from their title that these men were likely astrologers—or a group of scholars who studied the stars. But regardless of their origination, there’s one thing we can be certain of: they sought the King. Their desire was to follow the light God provided them and not miss out on worshipping at the feet of Jesus.
Respond: Great King, help me not to miss out at worshipping at Your feet. Not only in this spirited season, but throughout each day. I want to intentionally follow Your Light and seek You with my whole heart.
Tot Time: Discuss how there could’ve been more than three wise men (unlike what we see in modern nativity scenes). The wise men desired to worship (which means to “ascribe worth to something”) the King. Ask the tots, “What are ways we can worship God?”
