The Gifts of Faith
Matthew 2:1–12
Opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
It is easy to see why gold is an appropriate gift for Jesus Christ. Gold is the metal of kings. When gold was presented to Jesus, it acknowledged his right to rule. In presenting the gift of incense, the wise men pointed to Christ as our great High Priest, the one whose whole life was acceptable and well pleasing to his Father. Just as gold speaks of Christ’s kingship and incense speaks of the perfection of his life, so does myrrh speak of his death. Myrrh was used in embalming. Christ was to suffer, to die for sin. It was myrrh that symbolized this aspect of his ministry.
In coming to Christ we must come with our faith. Moreover, there is a sense in which by faith we too may present our gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh.
Begin with your myrrh. Myrrh is not only a symbol of Christ’s death but also of the spiritual death that should come to you for your sin. Lay it at Christ’s feet, saying, “Lord Jesus Christ, I know that I am less perfect than you are and am a sinner. I know that I should receive the consequence of my sin, which is to be barred from your presence forever. But you took my sin, dying in my place. I believe that. Now I ask you to accept me as your child forever.”
After you have done that, come with your incense, acknowledging that your life is as impure as the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is sinless. The Bible teaches that there is no good in man that is not mixed with evil. But it also teaches that Christ comes to live in the believer so that the good deeds produced in his or her life may become in their turn “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:18).
Finally, come with your gold. Gold symbolizes royalty. So when you come with your gold, you acknowledge the right of Christ to rule your life. You say, “I am your servant; you are my Master. Direct my life and lead me in it so that I might grow up spiritually to honor and to serve you accordingly.” Have you done that? Have you come believing in all that the myrrh, incense, and gold signify? If you have, you have embarked on a path of great spiritual joy and blessing. For those are the gifts of faith. They are the only things we can offer to the one who by grace has given all things to us.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.