A Gift Given February 12, 2016

Matthew 2:1-11     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.”

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.”

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.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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.

We can never repay God’s gift of Christ. Often we try to make it up to God by doing good deeds, regularly attending church, and seeking to grow spiritually. Sometimes we feel so unworthy that we resist God’s grace. But in the end we realize that a gift is a gift. Gifts do not demand repayment; they are freely given out of love. All we can do is accept God’s gift with joy, then allow that gift — Jesus Christ — to become a part of who we are.

Thought for today: What does the Christ mean to you?