Listen to Devotion

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem. and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-2,9-12

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In the last two devotions, we learned an important truth: Jesus came for everyone—people from every place, family, and nation. This wasn’t a surprise to God. It was his plan all along! God had promised it long before through his prophets.

At Christmas, God showed this truth in a special way. Wise men from the East followed a star to find Jesus. These wise men were not from Israel. They didn’t grow up going to the temple or celebrating Jewish festivals. They weren’t part of the group people expected to meet the Savior first.

And yet—God invited them too.

Somehow, they learned about a promise of a coming “King of the Jews.” Maybe they heard it from God’s people who once lived far from home. However they learned about it, they knew the star meant something important. So they traveled a long way—just to meet Jesus.

When they found him, they worshiped him in special ways.

You know this same light. Someone has told you the good news about Jesus and what he has done for you. So what does worship look like for you?

Like the wise men, you can worship Jesus by going where he promises to be. Each week, you have the chance to gather at church with other believers. Being there shows that Jesus matters to you. You worship Jesus when you confess your sins and trust his forgiveness. That’s you saying, “Jesus, you are my Savior.”

You can also worship Jesus by giving gifts. Sometimes that means offerings at church. But you can also give him:

All of these acts of worship show something important. They show that Jesus is the light of your salvation. They show that he is a top priority in your life. And they shine like a bright light for others to see—so they, too, can come to worship Jesus, the Light of the World!

Dear Jesus, through the star and the wise men, you showed that you are the Savior for everyone. Fill our hearts with joy and help us worship you with our whole lives—with our hearts, our time, and our strength. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

Download Family Devotions