Warriors Arise: May 31, 2023
Matthew 2:11 (NKJV) And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Did Mary and Joseph know what the gifts meant? Did the wisemen? We see the divine plan of God after the fact, but would wisemen, Joseph and Mary know what each one meant? The gold is identified with wealth, worldly power and kingship. The frankincense has a sweet and pleasant smell. It was burned as incense every Sabbath by the priests and used in healing balms. It was also on the Table of Showbread. Myrrh was also used as an incense, healing and used to anoint priests and tabernacles. It was also used for burial purposes.
As a parent, I find myself thinking the best of a situation regarding my children. I haven't always been an optimist, but as my relationship with God increases so does my optimism. Seriously, I was not an optimist for the first half of my life, maybe even longer than that. But God is gracious and didn't give up on me. He challenged me to stop speaking over my life, "Things have always been hard and they always will." Whenever hardships came, I felt that was my lot in life. I thought that everything I did would be hard and get more difficult, until God told me my thinking was not in alignment with His Word nor his desire for my life. There was time I despised Jeremiah 29:11. I thought that was for everyone else, but not for me. It wasn't my experience with the life I had been dealt. But God, in His gracious love spoke truth. I had to stop focusing on how hard life was and trust that He had a plan to shorten the hardship and get me through it. Hard times come but now, I do not despise them. I know with God I will get through them with peace that surpasses all understanding and I will come out stronger, deeper in faith, and with a testimony to encourage others. When it comes to my children, I have an insatiable faith that God will work things out in their favor. It doesn't mean hard things won't happen, it means they will rise above and see God lead them into triumph when they call upon Him.
I am sure the wisemen saw their gifts as nothing but the blessing they intended. The king, the priest, and the blessing Jesus would be to others. Even though they were led to give myrrh, I am sure they saw it as the blessing it was intended. There is nothing to say, they saw it as a burial gift. There are several movies that try to teach what the gifts meant; however, according to Scripture there was no explanation. The wisemen came and from the group of wisemen who came, they gave three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. They were a symbol, a marking, who Jesus was, what He would do in life and what He would do in death.
As a parent, I like to read into things for my children, "This must be good." I may find out later from my children, it wasn't a good thing. I have to take a step back and seek God to take me back through the situation, what was done and what was said. I am listening for God to reveal what I missed. When I presumed everything to be going well for my children. I miss when they are trying to tell me something not-so-good has happened or I miss when they need to tell me their goals or desires have changed. God sends signs to get our attention, to help us remember our children have a purpose, which He placed within them. It is our responsibility to seek Him in order to prepare them for what He has called them to be and do.
When the wisemen arrived it was a beautiful reminder to Mary and Joseph of their role in Jesus' life. He was not normal. He was not like every other child. He was given to them as a gift for the world. He would be king, priest, and Savior.
Father, there are times I have missed you. When I have gotten caught up in life and the daily activities of life, and I wasn't paying attention to Your plans for the children You have given me. I am so thankful You intervened and caught my attention. I need Your help in preparing each one of my children to do what You have called them to do. Give me wisdom and strength to do well in this responsibility. Thank You for the times I have had to readjust my thinking because I assessed a situation to be good, when it wasn't . I pray I have ears to hear my children and You. You will guide me in parenting them to be who You have created them to be. I will look to You. I will listen to You and I will listen to them. I will take the cues You have given and follow what You say. I pray each of my children will walk in Your ways all of their days of their lives. Life doesn't have to be hard. I pray they will learn to turn to You and watch You open up the door You have for them. I pray they are bold to walk through with You in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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