Key Thought

While Herod tried using his knowledge of Jesus' birth to kill him, the Magi used this knowledge to find him and worship him. Their worship involved giving of themselves, their time, their treasure, and their honor. Like them, when we truly come to Jesus to worship him, we must be willing to offer our time, our treasure, our honor, and ourselves; then God reveals his will to us and uses us to bless the work of Christ.

Today's Prayer

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Loving God, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, I love you and thank you for sending Jesus, my Savior and the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Please receive my heartfelt worship and praise for his worthiness and glory, and use me to advance his cause in the world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea. He was born during the time when Herod was king. After Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. The wise men asked people, "Where is the new baby that is the king of the Jews? We saw the star that shows he was born. We saw the star rise in the sky in the east. We came to worship him." King Herod heard about this new king of the Jews. Herod was troubled about this. And all the people in Jerusalem were worried too. Herod called a meeting of all the leading Jewish priests and teachers of the law. Herod asked them where the Christ would be born. They answered, "In the town of Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this {in the Scriptures }: 'Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are important among the rulers of Judah. Yes, a ruler will come from you, and that ruler will lead Israel, my people.'" Then Herod had a secret meeting with the wise men from the east. Herod learned from the wise men the exact time they first saw the star. Then Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem. Herod said to the wise men, "Go and look carefully to find the new baby. When you find the baby, come tell me. Then I can go worship him too." The wise men heard the king and then left. They saw the same star they had seen in the east. The wise men followed the star. The star went before them until it stopped above the place where the baby was. The wise men were happy to see the star. They were very excited. The wise men came to the house where the baby was. They saw the baby with his mother Mary. The wise men bowed down and worshiped the baby. The wise men opened the gifts they brought for the baby. They gave the baby treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But God warned the wise men in a dream. God warned them not to go back to Herod. So the wise men went home to their own country a different way.

— Matthew 2:1-12 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.