December 18, 2025

Matthew 2:7-12  (HCSB)
7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship Him.” 9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

Noah Leighton
Are you a good gift giver? Because I am absolutely not. A few years ago, I thought I had nailed it for my wife’s birthday. She had “mentioned” she liked the Boston Red Sox. So, naturally, I went all in—Red Sox hat, hoodie, mug, even socks. I wrapped it all up like it was the most thoughtful gift ever. She smiled, thanked me, and acted so excited. Fast forward a few months, and I realized something. She didn’t actually like the Red Sox... she just liked me. (I am a Red Sox fan) Turns out, she was being a supportive wife, not a fan. So now she owns more Red Sox gear than most people in Boston—and I learned that enthusiasm doesn’t always equal passion. That story makes me think of the wise men in Matthew 2:7–12. They brought Jesus gifts that were actually fitting—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They didn’t guess what He might like; they honored who He truly was: King, God, and Savior. The wise men remind us that real worship isn’t about guessing what might impress God—it’s about giving Him what He’s worthy of: our genuine devotion, not just our best guess.