The Gifts of the Magi

January 6 is a Christian holiday known as Epiphany. Besides being the twelfth day of Christmas, we remember the visit of the Magi or the Wise Men with the Christ child. They brought gifts and they have significant meaning.

Gold is precious across all nations and cultures. It is fit for royalty and said to the Christ child, You will be a King.

Frankincense is a milky sap tapped from the Boswellia tree and is known for its calming, restorative, and meditative properties. Ancient people burned Frankincense, believing it carried their prayers to Heaven. This gift illustrates Christ's role as Priest.

Myrrh is the resin produced by a small, tough, scraggly tree that grows in semi-desert regions along the Red Sea. It is known as a wound healer because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Yet the most popular use is as an embalming ointment. After Jesus died on the cross, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea anointed Jesus' body with myrrh. This is the gift that signifies Jesus as our Savior.

Epiphany commemorates the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi. For more fascinating information regarding the gifts of the Magi, follow this link: http://www.magi-gifts.com/significance.html

Application
The gifts of the Magi inspired the annual tradition of Christmas gift giving. What gift did you give or receive this Christmas that has lasting value?

Prayer
Thank you, Father God, for the greatest gift of all, the gift of love in Your Son and our Lord Jesus. Help us to love as you do so others may come to know your love too. Amen.

The Fall of Jericho

Now Jericho was tightly shut up. No one went in and no one came out. The people in the city were afraid of the the powerful nation of Israel. God said to Joshua, "I have delivered Jericho, its king, and fighting men into your hands. March around the city with your army. Do this for six days. On the seventh day have seven priests blow their trumpets in front of the ark and march around Jericho seven times. At the sound of a long, a very long blast, have the people give a loud, a very loud shout, and the city will fall down.

Joshua believed God would do exactly what He said, so he and his men walked around Jericho once every day for six days. On the seventh day, the seven priests blew their trumpets and Joshua's army marched around Jericho seven times. At the sound of a long, a very long blast, the people gave a loud, a very loud shout and the walls of Jericho crumbled to the ground. The city fell--never to be rebuilt.

Are there times in your life when things seem so great to you that it is hard to trust God? That is how Joshua felt. Against all odds, he trusted God to do what He said He would do and God did exactly what He promised. You can be sure He keeps His promises. The promise I rely on most is that He promised He would never leave me, that He would always be with me. So whenever I feel alone, I say His name and know He is near. He loves you as He loves me and He will be with you too. Just say His name.