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Gifts for a King · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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  Speaker 1: Matthew 6.21 Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to examine our
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  Speaker 1: hearts and our priorities, to recognize what we truly value
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  Speaker 1: and treasure. May our desires align with your kingdom and
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  Speaker 1: your righteousness, so that our hearts will be firmly anchored
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  Speaker 1: in you. Keep us from being swayed by the fleeting
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  Speaker 1: treasures of this world, which can never satisfy. Teach us
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  Speaker 1: to invest our time, energy, and resources in what matters eternally.
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  Speaker 1: Fill our hearts with a longing for your presence and
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  Speaker 1: your ways, knowing that the true treasure is found in
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  Speaker 1: a relationship with you. May our lives be a reflection
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  Speaker 1: of of where our treasure lies. May we find joy
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  Speaker 1: and contentment in pursuing you above all else. In the
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  Speaker 1: name of Jesus, our greatest treasure, we pray.
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  Speaker 2: Amen.
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  Speaker 3: Shh, sweet child, I'm here. Mary's voice was a reassuring
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  Speaker 3: balm to the child's cries. Her hands were gentle as
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  Speaker 3: she wrapped Jesus in her arms and swayed him back
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  Speaker 3: and forth. Her voice hummed alongside the crackling fire in
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  Speaker 3: their humble home. Jesus' tiny eyes glistened in the warm glow.
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  Speaker 3: Joseph was by the fire, his eyes dancing with the flames,
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  Speaker 3: a momentary refuge from the labors of life. He had
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  Speaker 3: toiled all day with the stonemasons while Mary and Jesus
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  Speaker 3: walked through the marketplace. Their single room was a sanctuary
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  Speaker 3: for all of them, a refuge from the cold night outside.
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  Speaker 3: filled with the warmth of love. Joseph's eyes found Mary's,
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  Speaker 3: and he approached her, gently kissing her forehead before touching
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  Speaker 3: his lips to the baby's nose. A cool escaped Jesus' lips,
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  Speaker 3: and the new parents' faces lit up with joy. In
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  Speaker 3: the chaotic storm of parenting, these tranquil moments were a
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  Speaker 3: glimpse of heaven's peace.
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  Speaker 2: Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
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  Speaker 2: Bible in a Year podcast. It's been a joy following
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  Speaker 2: the highs and lows of this renowned Christmas tale with you. Today,
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  Speaker 2: we glimpse an intimate scene between the Magi and Jesus.
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  Speaker 2: The story of the Magi visiting Jesus is more than
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  Speaker 2: a picturesque scene. It's a spiritual lesson on true royalty,
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  Speaker 2: meaningful worship, and heartfelt giving. The Magi have followed the star,
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  Speaker 2: gotten word that the child must be in Bethlehem, and
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  Speaker 2: are about to behold the majesty of Jesus. In case
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  Speaker 2: any of you were curious about the timeline of these events,
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  Speaker 2: the Magi most likely visited Jesus when he was between
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  Speaker 2: 6 and 18 months old. No doubt Joseph procured a
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  Speaker 2: job in town, waiting for the right moment to return
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  Speaker 2: to Nazareth. This episode is quiet, warm, and profound. But
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  Speaker 2: make no mistake, it is the calm before the final
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  Speaker 2: storm Let's begin.
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  Speaker 3: Mary, Joseph, and Jesus shared a tender moment in the
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  Speaker 3: warmth of their humble home. The crackling of fire intermixed
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  Speaker 3: with the chirping of crickets outside. Jesus was calm now,
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  Speaker 3: eyes fixed on his mother. Mary and Joseph were in
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  Speaker 3: constant awe of him. His eyes reflected promise, hope, and love.
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  Speaker 3: He was only an infant. but their knowledge of who
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  Speaker 3: he was caused them to look at him differently. Although,
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  Speaker 3: they occasionally forgot when it was time to feed him,
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  Speaker 3: change him, or remain up all night with him. Son
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  Speaker 3: of God or not, an infant was an infant. But
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  Speaker 3: for now, all was quiet and peaceful. Suddenly, a knock
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  Speaker 3: jarred them from their moment of bliss. Joseph's eyes narrowed,
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  Speaker 3: his hands reaching instinctively for his chisels. Who would be
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  Speaker 3: visiting at this hour? The knocking grew insistent and Joseph's
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  Speaker 3: heartbeat quickened, a drum of war readying him to protect
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  Speaker 3: his family. He gestured for Mary to step back as
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  Speaker 3: he approached the door, the chisel hidden and ready to strike.
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  Speaker 3: He opened the door and immediately cocked his head in confusion.
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  Speaker 3: Three men adorned in rich and resplendent robes stood before him.
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  Speaker 3: The jewels from their headdresses gleamed like stars. May I
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  Speaker 3: help you? Joseph asked, confused and off-kilter. We have journeyed far.
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  Speaker 3: Caspar smiled with his eyes. To worship the king, he
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  Speaker 3: said with his grizzled and low voice. Joseph's breath caught
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  Speaker 3: in his throat. He glanced back at Mary, his eyes
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  Speaker 3: wide with disbelief, before gesturing for the men to step in.
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  Speaker 3: The child was cradled in Mary's arms, hand firmly grasping
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  Speaker 3: her finger. The Magi entered slowly and with great respect.
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  Speaker 3: Their grandeur and extravagant clothes starkly contrasted Joseph and Mary's
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  Speaker 3: humble home. But as their eyes fell on Jesus, all
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  Speaker 3: sense of status and wealth faded. These three men, who
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  Speaker 3: bowed to no one, fell prostrate onto the floor before him,
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  Speaker 3: their faces pressed to the ground, voices quivering with awe.
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  Speaker 3: It is an honor, our king. Caspar whispered, his voice
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  Speaker 3: a gentle breeze. We have followed the star, and it
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  Speaker 3: led us to you. Mary and Joseph exchanged glances, their
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  Speaker 3: hearts pounding with wonder. These were not mere men, but
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  Speaker 3: rulers and kings in their own right. And yet, they
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  Speaker 3: bowed before their child. We have brought gifts, Melchior announced
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  Speaker 3: in reverence. Caspar brought out a small wooden chest with
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  Speaker 3: silver engravings. He opened the chest to reveal dozens of
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  Speaker 3: gold pieces shimmering in the firelight. Gold for a king,
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  Speaker 3: he said softly, laying it at Merry's feet. Melchior brought
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  Speaker 3: out a glass flask of refined oil. Frankincense, he said
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  Speaker 3: with reverence, for the divine. Belshazzar brought out a linen
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  Speaker 3: bag of resin, glimmering nearly as bright as the gold.
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  Speaker 3: And myrrh, he concluded with a soft voice. The three
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  Speaker 3: magi lingered there for a while, Words failed them, for
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  Speaker 3: they had a sense that this moment was more profound
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  Speaker 3: than they would ever realize. After a final bow, the
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  Speaker 3: men rose, their faces etched with reverence and gratitude. We
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  Speaker 3: must go, Belshazzar said, his voice heavy with reluctance. They departed,
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  Speaker 3: their souls forever changed, leaving behind a blessing that lingered
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  Speaker 3: in the air. Joseph and Mary retreated to their bed,
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  Speaker 3: their hearts heavy with awe. They watched Jesus sleep, his
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  Speaker 3: face a picture of serenity, a reflection of God's grace.
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  Speaker 3: The Magi returned to their caravan with sober reflection on
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  Speaker 3: the tip of their tongues. What have we just witnessed?
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  Speaker 3: Melchior asked with a sigh. Kaspar shook his head in disbelief.
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  Speaker 3: God's chosen king in a small home tucked in the
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  Speaker 3: hills of Bethlehem? Was not King David such a child too?
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  Speaker 3: He hailed from Bethlehem. And see how great he became,
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  Speaker 3: Melchior replied. Belshazzar was more serious, keeping his eyes fixed
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  Speaker 3: on Jerusalem. He had a pit in his stomach ever
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  Speaker 3: since leaving Herod's palace. He will become greater than David,
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  Speaker 3: Belshazzar said. That night, the men slept soundly in the
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  Speaker 3: ornate tents pitched outside Bethlehem. The entire caravan was at peace,
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  Speaker 3: except Belshazzar. He tossed under the blankets, tormented by visions
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  Speaker 3: of fire and blood. The sound of infant screams surrounded
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  Speaker 3: him before he woke up in a panic. Sweat beat
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  Speaker 3: down his forehead. He lit his torch and woke his companions.
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  Speaker 3: We must go, now, he insisted. Herod can never know
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  Speaker 3: of what we have witnessed. We must leave before he
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  Speaker 3: has the chance to follow us. The magi agreed to
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  Speaker 3: travel into the night, retreating far away from Herod's sight.
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  Speaker 3: Something sinister was at work, but they knew they had
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  Speaker 3: witnessed the beginning of a story that would change the world,
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  Speaker 3: a story of love, sacrifice, and redemption. In the quiet
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  Speaker 3: of the night, they felt the hand of God guiding them,
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  Speaker 3: assuring them that they were a part of a grand design,
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  Speaker 3: a tapestry woven with threads of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
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  Speaker 2: The story of the Magi's visitation to the infant Jesus
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  Speaker 2: is a profound reminder of the nature of true royalty.
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  Speaker 2: It's not in the splendor of garments or the accumulation
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  Speaker 2: of wealth, but in righteousness. The Magi, adorned with jewels
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  Speaker 2: and dressed in royal robes, journeyed far to bow before Jesus.
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  Speaker 2: These were wise men, kings in their own right, who
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  Speaker 2: recognized a king in a child wrapped in swaddling clothes,
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  Speaker 2: in a humble dwelling They found a royalty that surpassed
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  Speaker 2: all the worldly riches they possessed. Jesus, the King of Kings,
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  Speaker 2: was born in a stable, not a palace. His throne
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  Speaker 2: was a manger, not a seat adorned with gold and
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  Speaker 2: precious stones. This story invites us to reflect on our
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  Speaker 2: own perception of greatness and success. Are we captivated by
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  Speaker 2: the glitter of worldly success or the true royalty found
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  Speaker 2: in righteousness, humility, and service to others? Jesus' kingship challenges
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  Speaker 2: the world's understanding of power and prestige, leading us to
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  Speaker 2: a new way of living. The Magi, filled with awe
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  Speaker 2: and reverence, give three famous gifts to Jesus. The gifts
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  Speaker 2: that the Magi presented to Jesus were not arbitrary. Each
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  Speaker 2: had a symbolic significance. First, gold, symbolizing Jesus' royalty. Gold
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  Speaker 2: reminds us that Christ is the King of all creation. Gold,
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  Speaker 2: as a royal medal, pointed to Jesus' dominion and reign.
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  Speaker 2: Gold is a pure metal and is valued above all others. Frankincense.
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  Speaker 2: Representing Jesus' divinity, frankincense was used in worship and portrayed
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  Speaker 2: Jesus as God incarnate. It speaks of his heavenly origin
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  Speaker 2: and his role as our eternal high priest. Myrrh. Alluding
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  Speaker 2: to Jesus' eventual death, myrrh was used for embalming bodies.
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  Speaker 2: Even at his birth, the shadow of the cross loomed.
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  Speaker 2: and this gift prophetically pointed to his sacrificial death. These
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  Speaker 2: gifts were not just valuable, but full of meaning, connecting
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  Speaker 2: with the identity and mission of Jesus. They remind us
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  Speaker 2: that our worship and gifts to him should be thoughtful
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  Speaker 2: and profound, reflecting our understanding of who he is. We
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  Speaker 2: are reminded of the Magi's offerings to Jesus as we
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  Speaker 2: exchange gifts during Christmas. Our gifts are symbols of love, kindness,
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  Speaker 2: and joy. But let's also remember the true gift of Christmas,
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  Speaker 2: Jesus Christ. The connection between the Magi's gifts and our
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  Speaker 2: Christmas presents lies in the heart behind the giving. Let
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  Speaker 2: our gifts be expressions of our love for one another,
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  Speaker 2: mirroring the love God showed us by sending His Son.
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  Speaker 2: Whether richly adorned like the Magi or simple and humble,
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  Speaker 2: let our giving be sincere. reflecting the values and virtues
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  Speaker 2: of Christ's kingdom. As we celebrate Christmas, may we bow
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  Speaker 2: before Jesus, our righteous King, with hearts full of worship
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  Speaker 2: and hands filled with love. May our gifts reflect His love,
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  Speaker 2: His sacrifice, and His redemption. Jesus said in Matthew 6,
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  Speaker 2: verse 21, For where your treasure is, there your heart
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  Speaker 2: will be also. The Magi story invites us to treasure
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  Speaker 2: Jesus above all else. May this Christmas season be a
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  Speaker 2: time to draw near to him, to discover his love anew,
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  Speaker 2: and to share it with those around us. Thanks for
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  Speaker 2: listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Pastor
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  Speaker 2: Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Pray.com app and
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  Speaker 2: make prayer a priority in your life. If you enjoyed
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  Speaker 2: this podcast, share it with someone you love by sharing
• 13:09
  Speaker 2: this podcast, you can make a difference in someone's life.
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  Speaker 2: And if you want more resources on how to tap
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  Speaker 2: into God's power for successful Christian living, be sure to
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  Speaker 2: visit JackGraham.org. God bless you.