Amos 4-6
Revelation 7
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.’” Matthew 2:1-2
Have we ever considered how our gifts can offer people hope? In the Christmas story, the wise men travelled from afar seeking the newborn King of the Jews. In Matthew 2:11, we are told, “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, frankincense and myrrh.” While Mary and Joseph were both told the special identity of the Child, could we imagine the hope that welled in their hearts when others came to acknowledge it as well? We are told after hearing the proclamation of the shepherds on the night of His birth, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). Now again, God sent someone to this hard-pressed couple to reassure them of this truth—to give them hope.
The wise men presented gifts to Jesus, not only because He is the Saviour of the world, but because He is worthy of their worship. Yet, not long after the wise men went to see the family did they have to flee for their lives. Matthew 2:13-14 tells us, “an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the Child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him.’ So he got up, took the Child and His mother during the night and left for Egypt.” The gifts that the family received from the wise men would have helped them in Egypt, when they had no home, no connections and no resources.
In our present-day understanding, Jesus’s family lived as refugees in a foreign land in the first few years of His life. They were forcibly displaced, living in a country where they did not know the language, the culture and the people. It was God’s provision for them through the wise men’s gifts that gave them hope to endure.
Although the majority of us reading this devotion may not be able to travel physically to a refugee camp and serve there, we can partner with those who are physically serving in these places by giving generously. Every Christmas, The Peoples Church (Toronto, Canada), highlights a partner to raise funds to support their ministry. This year, IAFR (International Association For Refugees) was selected as the ministry to bless financially. While it may feel like we cannot help people so far away, we can participate by extending God’s hope to them with our gifts.
Dear Jesus, I may never know what it is like to be forcibly displaced, but You do. Open my heart to give generously and bless others with hope. Thank You, Lord.
Revelation 7
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.’” Matthew 2:1-2
Have we ever considered how our gifts can offer people hope? In the Christmas story, the wise men travelled from afar seeking the newborn King of the Jews. In Matthew 2:11, we are told, “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, frankincense and myrrh.” While Mary and Joseph were both told the special identity of the Child, could we imagine the hope that welled in their hearts when others came to acknowledge it as well? We are told after hearing the proclamation of the shepherds on the night of His birth, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). Now again, God sent someone to this hard-pressed couple to reassure them of this truth—to give them hope.
The wise men presented gifts to Jesus, not only because He is the Saviour of the world, but because He is worthy of their worship. Yet, not long after the wise men went to see the family did they have to flee for their lives. Matthew 2:13-14 tells us, “an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the Child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him.’ So he got up, took the Child and His mother during the night and left for Egypt.” The gifts that the family received from the wise men would have helped them in Egypt, when they had no home, no connections and no resources.
In our present-day understanding, Jesus’s family lived as refugees in a foreign land in the first few years of His life. They were forcibly displaced, living in a country where they did not know the language, the culture and the people. It was God’s provision for them through the wise men’s gifts that gave them hope to endure.
Although the majority of us reading this devotion may not be able to travel physically to a refugee camp and serve there, we can partner with those who are physically serving in these places by giving generously. Every Christmas, The Peoples Church (Toronto, Canada), highlights a partner to raise funds to support their ministry. This year, IAFR (International Association For Refugees) was selected as the ministry to bless financially. While it may feel like we cannot help people so far away, we can participate by extending God’s hope to them with our gifts.
Dear Jesus, I may never know what it is like to be forcibly displaced, but You do. Open my heart to give generously and bless others with hope. Thank You, Lord.
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