Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year 2016 | Page 51

Friday—January 6th

Where Are They From?
Matthew 2:1-12
There has been a show on TV for the past few years called “Who
Do You Think You Are?” The show features new celebrities each
week who digs through their ancestry to try and discover the
history of their family and where they came from. The hope is that
by learning where they came from, they may learn more about
themselves.

THE

Epiphany

Who do you think the wise men are? Scholars and historians love to
debate and suggest theories. Some suggest that they are Persians.
Some suggest that they are Babylonians. Some suggest that they are
Indians. Still others point to different nationalities and some say it may have been men from
many different nations. The only thing Scripture says for sure is that these men are from the
East.

However, I think we can learn much about who these wise men are from finding out who they
are not. They are not locals. They traveled from a long way to see this child. They are not part
of God’s chosen nation, the Jews. They are foreigners are strangers who were given the grace
to seek this new king.
All that I don’t know about them teaches me that Jesus came for all people. Jesus came for
people born in Ohio and Florida. He came for people born in Burma and Malawi. He came for
people who are rich and who are poor. He came for those who are wise and those who are
foolish. In short, Jesus came for all people and that means you and me too.
Who do you think you are? Just like the wise men, you are someone Jesus came to save.
PRAYER:
Father in heaven, wise men from the east came to worship you from afar because you are their
Savior too. May we also always worship you as our Savior. Amen.
ACTIVITY:
Today is the final day of Christmas. (Tomorrow begins Epiphany.) Before you pack up all of
your decorations and eat the final Christmas cookie, write down for yourself on a small piece
of paper one truth you heard this Christmas season that you found especially valuable. Tape
this piece of paper somewhere you will see it everyday throughout the next year. (Bathroom
mirror, dash of your car, refrigerator door.) Keep it there until the next Advent to remind
yourself how the Lord came at Christmas to be your Savior.

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