With Us Matthew 2:1-12

Jesus came to serve.

Will we serve too? What are you planning to do for others this holiday season?

Others should be the mantra of our life and our existence.

Every Christian is spiritually gifted in one area or another. In an article for Lifeway, Tom Blackaby describes how to use your spiritual gifts in the church. He writes, “Any gift that’s left unopened or is disregarded is useless. God gives us specific spiritual gifts as the primary avenue for Him to use us in His church to bless others. Every Christian should watch for opportunities to minister to others, to use their gifts as a blessing and an encouragement to others. Even the newest Christian can serve others.” (Article source: http://www.lifeway.com/Article/gifts-How-to-use-your-God-given-gifts)

Though we are gifted by God in some areas, we cannot passively expect them to be used or noticed. We must be active and willing to volunteer them to build up the church and for God’s glory.

Are Gifts Important?

Bringing gifts was particularly important in the ancient East when approaching a superior

.

King James Version Chapter 43

11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds

King James Version Chapter 9

7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? 8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

Frankincense is a glittering, odorous gum obtained by making incisions in the bark of several trees; myrrh exudes from a tree found in Arabia and a few other places and was a much-valued spice and perfume

King James Version Chapter 19

39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Commentators have found symbolic value in the three gifts—gold suggesting royalty, incense divinity, and myrrh the Passion and burial. This interpretation demands too much insight from the Magi. The three gifts were simply expensive and not uncommon presents and may have helped finance the trip to Egypt .

Ain’t got the time!

The wise men found Jesus and offered him gifts as a sign of worship. Like the wise men who worshiped Jesus, the presence of Christ should compel us to let our light shine by offering our lives as gifts to God.

Jesus meant everything to the wise men. They gave up their time, money, and energy because He was worth it.

Why was Herod so mad or worried about Jesus coming?

Because He was a fake- not the real deal.\

It is no surprise that King Herod … was disturbed when the Magi came to Jerusalem looking for the One who had been “born King” (v. 2). Herod was not the rightful king from the line of David. In fact he was not even a descendant of Jacob, but was descended from Esau and thus was an Edomite. (He reigned over Palestine from 37 b.c. to 4 b.c. See the chart on the Herods at .) This fact caused most of the Jews to hate him and never truly to accept him as king, even though he did much for the country. If someone had been rightfully born king, then Herod’s job was in jeopardy. He therefore called the Jewish scholars together and inquired where the Christ was to be born (). Interestingly Herod connected the One “born king of the Jews” (v. 2) with “the Christ,” the Messiah. Obviously Israel had a messianic hope and believed that the Messiah would be born.

Humility the wise men worshiped with humility.