Week 29 · New Testament · about 3 minutes · 190 words

🎁 A Star and Three Gifts

Wise men follow a star, worship Jesus, and choose a different road home.

Far away, wise men saw a star that told them a king had been born. They traveled a long road to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star and have come to worship him.”

A jealous king named Herod pretended he wanted to worship too. God warned the wise men in a dream not to trust him. The star went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the child with Mary, they bowed. They opened treasures: gold, frankincense, and myrrh — gifts fit for a king, a priest, and a savior.

Then they went home by another road. Worship had changed their direction. Joseph, warned in a dream, took Mary and Jesus to Egypt for a while so the child would be safe. God was watching over the family on every road.

You may not have gold to carry, but you can still bow. Worship is giving Jesus your attention, your thanks, and your trust. And when God shows you a wiser road, it is brave to take it.

“They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:11 · Matthew 2

Say it

Practice Matthew 2:11

Tap the words in order. The blanks follow the verse from left to right.

cameintothehouseandsawtheyoungchildMary,hismother,andtheyfelldownandworshipedhim.Openingtheirtreasures,theyofferedtohimgifts:frankincense,andmyrrh.

Talk about it

What did the wise men come to do?
Why did they take a different road home?
What can you give Jesus that is not a thing you can wrap?

Prayer

Jesus, you are worthy of worship. Help me follow your light and walk the road you choose. Amen.

Parent tip

Mention that God protected the child, without unfolding Herod’s violence.

Week 29 · the whole night