The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:9-12, “After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 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.”

The magi were often called “wise men.” In fact, they were! They were wise because they sought the Christ Child; they were wiser when they found Him; and they were wisest after having believing in Him. How wise are you? Have you found Him? Are you trusting Him?

The star the magi followed led them directly to the Son of God. Your “star” might be a friend, who has shared the Good News of Christ with you. There are innumerable “stars” at the LORD’s disposal that can guide you into a life of faith in Him. The Bible itself is the chief guide. Reading it and believing it will not lead you astray. The magi never sought to improve on the star; nor can we improve on the Scriptures. What we can do is improve on reading and believing them!

The treasures the magi brought to the Child Jesus were practical as well as symbolic. Gold was the metal of kings. It signified their recognition of Jesus as the King of the Jews. It later served His earthly family well when they fled to Egypt. Frankincense was a “vegetable resin” that served well as fumigation for sacrifices.

Myrrh, meaning “bitter,” was a gum resin from a tree. It was used as perfume and as one of the ingredients of the holy anointing oil for the priests, as well as for embalming of the dead. Each of these gifts recognized the distinctions of the Christ in His earthly life of 33 years.

Interesting, too, is how the magi, after attending to their responsibilities in honoring the LORD Jesus, faded into history. We have no mention of them anywhere beyond the Scriptures. You may never be noticed for your witness of Him. That’s not important. What is important is that you know Him personally and live according to His instruction in Scripture. Start now in meeting this new year with an earnest endeavor to read His Word daily and live accordingly. Pray for others! Encourage them to pray for you! Jesus is Coming and we want to be “wise” in accomplishing His instructions before He comes!

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