Watchful Waiting Joy

Advent Bible Journaling Focus – Three Kings Day

Three Gifts for Our King

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

“…they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11

We don’t know a lot about the wise men but maybe what we do know from Matthew is exactly what we need to know.

Sky-watching gentile men saw a special star rise in the sky. Did you notice Matthew’s wording? It wasn’t just a special star, it was HIS star, the Messiah’s star. They prepared kingly gifts, packed them in their travel bags, and set out on a journey following the star to find that king.

They headed to the most likely place to find a new king of the Jews – Jerusalem, the capital city of Judea. Inquiries about where they might find the newborn king took them to Bethlehem. The star moved ahead of them and then stopped over the place where the child was.

When they saw the star over that place, the men “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” This is not just a little joy! They had found the new king. Can you feel their joy? They had come a long way and at last they were at their journey’s end.

These gentile wise men fell to their knees before the young Jesus and worshiped Him. When I put myself into this picture as one of those men, it squeezes my heart.

Then they presented Him with the gifts they had brought – gold, frankincense, and myrrh – each one a gift fit for a king. Can you see the scene in your imagination? I wish we could hear their voices as they gave their gifts. I wish we could see the face of little Jesus as they knelt there.

Three things I want to remember from this story…

These wise men watching the sky, saw the star rise. When they saw it, they were ready to go find the king. Am I watching and waiting for Jesus and ready for His coming again? So many scriptures urge you and me as followers of Christ to be ready for Him when He comes back. Let’s watch and wait with eager intentionality!

While we wait God is at work around us, in us, and through us. We don’t have a star to point Him out but we do have the Holy Spirit living within us to give us eyes to see Him and ears to hear Him. Let’s listen well and be ready for action when He calls! No hesitation. Living with intentionality for Him every day.

Finally, what gift will you offer to your King? He made you with interests, abilities, and talents that can be used in all kinds of ways in every day worship of the King of Kings. Surrendering our lives to Jesus out of love and gratefulness for His gift of eternal life to me and you happens one intentional choice at a time.

There is amazing joy in living every day with an upward focus on Jesus Christ our King!

And one day we will bow together at the very real feet of our wonderful Lord Jesus and worship Him forever.

Come, Lord Jesus. We wait for you.

The Watchful Waiting Joy Advent focus includes one devotional prompt for each week of Advent plus Christmas Day plus the prompt in this post to close out the season. I am thrilled with the way each of the printables turned out each week and give all glory to God for that! Each prompt includes a free printable to print and use in your Bible or journal as you process each prompt. Each printable is original artwork created by me with a few exceptions where noted at the bottom of each WWJ blog post.

It has been a great joy to watch and wait through Advent with you all. Thanks so much for joining me!

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Three Gifts for Our King (Printable Download)
HERE

Free Downloadable Printable (One page only)
(Click on the image below.)

If you are still finishing up your Advent journaling pages and need access to the regular, free weekly printable from each week, you will find them in each week’s blog post.