[The Magi] entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
~Matt 2:11 (MSG)

According to Matthew’s account of Christ’s birth Magi or “wise men” came from the east to worship Jesus.   They did this because they believed the prophecies written in the Scriptures centuries before.  The Magi’s faith to believe what they read and to believe in the sign they saw in a star is both inspiring and convicting for me personally.

I’m inspired by their faith because they risked everything to journey for weeks, months or even years.   They left their families, homes, and friends to act on something that many of us would think was nothing more than a hunch.   On top of that they carried gifts for the Christ that cost them dearly.

I’m convicted by their faith because they traveled thousands of miles for Christ and I don’t often enough have the courage to travel across the street to talk to my neighbor about Him.   For a long season they gave up their families, homes, and friends for Christ, but I have a hard time giving up a Saturday afternoon to serve at a local mission.   They made huge financial sacrifices for Jesus whom they had never met and I struggle to give more to Him whom I’ve known for 23 years.

Lord, may I not only be stirred by the story of the Magi, but may I be changed.  May the inspiration and conviction I receive from the their story help me overcome my courage and truly be a person of faith.