The Magi came to give gifts to the New Born King, and their gifts were a reflection of the gifts the King would BE to his people.

• They gave Him gold because He would be King. Reigning to bring justice and peace to a broken world.
• They gave Him Frankincense, an incense used to burn in worship, because He would be our Priest. Leading us in purity and bringing us to The Throne of Grace.
• They gave Him Myrrh, used in anointing for burial, because He would be our Sacrifice. Laying down His life to bring us Salvation.

He became each of these things because of His Love.

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I said near the beginning of this journey that the candles vary in tradition and meaning. The Fourth is hard to specify. I’ve found it as the Candle of Peace, and also the Candle of Love, the Candle of the Magi, and also the Candle of the Angels. (When the Fourth is called the candle of Peace than the Second is named the Candle of Faith)

For this series I’m going to use the meaning of Love.

God’s Gift of Love to us!

When Christ was born the world brought Him gifts. But they were not the true gift given on that night. All were only an echo showing us the gift that He would be. They were messages to us about His gift to us. The gift of Himself.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

And this, my friend, is the heart of Christmas. It is why we give, because He gave. It is why we love, because He loved.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

As we open up His gift of Love for us this holiday season, let us do so with praise and thanksgiving. He didn’t have to give us this gift, just as we are not required to give to others. Yet He did. So lets do the same! Give your love to those around you in this season.

Give because He Gave.

Love because He Loved.

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Merry Christmas!

Joy Aletheia Stevens

Photo Credit: Einen schönen 4.Advent Euch! By Gytha69 (CC BY 2.0)