Neat word. "To show upon." A disclosure.  A manifestation.

"For God so loved the world that He gave . . .." " . . .  and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

The Christian Church has long celebrated the 6th of January as the feast of the Wise Men. We have never quite figured out who they were. But, is it really important? Probably not.

They disclosed their finest to the One they believed to be the King of the Jews. Just as God had given his best, they gave what were the most expensive gifts of their day. Gold for prosperity, frankincense for sweetness and atmosphere, and myrrh as a preservative symbolizing his ability to overcome even the worst of times. Their finest to the Finest.

It is a long journey from the first day of Advent to Epiphany. If you have read each day you have laughed, cried, and discovered a new vision of God's greatest manifestation of His love for you. You too have felt your own emotions churn as the recollections and reminiscences of others have reminded you of days of hope, love, peace and family. You have had things disclosed to you that you had long forgotten. Some of those were blessings. Others may have been things that you wish had remained hidden.

But, each one of them is you. Your life, your dreams, your desires, your longings. Like it or not, you have to deal with each of them and accept yourself because and in spite of them. That is okay. It really is. God does, whether you do or not.

The whole story of the season is meant for you. You are the "whosoever" of John 3:16. God gave Himself for you. A whole year is ahead of you as the celebration of Christmas draws to a close. If you have not done it yet, please, be encouraged to give God the best gift you ever could. Yourself. You are important, so important that Jesus came and gave Himself on your behalf. All He has ever wanted is to give you the chance to be free in Him. To be His. To know Him as a personal God, Friend, Companion.

Won't you give Him what He wants most for Christmas?

- Joe Hittle
Ottumwa, Iowa, USA

Lord,

We made it, didn't we? What am I going to do?  I just realized that tomorrow, there are no more of these devotionals to read.

What's that?

Yes Lord, I do have a Bible.

Start where?

I think I can find the 4 gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, right ?? Do I have to read all of those begats?

Not unless I'm doing a genealogy study! Whew, Thanks! Uh, Lord, what's Lent? Easter? Pentecost? Okay, I do have a few things to learn. But, thanks for getting me started. Help me to stay with this. I didn't do so well last year.