The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:11-12, “After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.”

There’s nothing like the giving and receiving of a gift. In many instances gifts are costly; in many, they are not. Yet, regardless of the cost, simply knowing that the gift was given in love and that you were thought worthy, is quite enough.

The young Christ-Child, Jesus, may not, at that time in age, have known the value of the magis’ gifts. They would, however, show their value in the coming days when the small family would, at the LORD’s direction, escape the wrath of Heron by moving into Egypt.

The inimitable Australian scholar, Dr. Leon Morris, offers the following thoughts regarding the magi and their offerings to the young Child Jesus:

“The magi prostrated themselves before the Baby in lowly worship. They proceeded
to open their treasure chests and offer gifts…gold…frankincense (‘a white resinous
gum, obtained from several kinds of a certain tree in Arabia…) and myrrh (the resinous
gum of the bush ‘balsamodendron myrrha). Clearly all three were valuable, and together
they formed a munificent gift, suitable for offering to a king. Christians have often seen symbolical meanings in them gold for royalty, frankincense for deity, and myrrh pointing
to suffering and death…”

It is shameful that we so often undervalue the LORD’’s gift of His Son, Jesus. It is equally shameful when we only seek Him when there’s trouble beyond what we oursleves can resolve. Let this Christmas be a new beginning! Set your mind to focus on Him this coming year! If you’ve never trusted Him as your Savior and Lord, do it today! If you have trusted Him, but never grown in your Christian life, start growing today! Read His Word daily, and set a daily time for serious prayer. He loves you and wants to store His Word and Love in your heart. Love Him like your life depends on it because
It does! God bless you!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom