October 2, 2026
January 6th was the 12th day of Christmas, Three Kings Day, Epiphany, and Old Christmas all rolled into one. This special day celebrates the arrival of the wise men in the Christmas story (Matthew 2). I’m glad to have a specific time to appreciate those sages who traveled a great distance to find the newborn King.
The wise men. I picture them this minute in velvety robes with radiant smiles. In my mind’s eye, I see one of them with a white beard.
They had journeyed so far. They could have been irritated, frustrated, or aggravated. Long trips don’t always bring out the best in travelers, yet Matthew tells us they arrived on the scene with “exceeding joy.” When our kids were little, we trekked to Florida for a family reunion with two toddlers in a minivan without a TV or video player. We did not have exceeding joy. We were just glad get out of the van.
As we begin a new year, there are some good things we can learn from the wise men.
Have a habit of pressing on. The Wise Men did not quit. They didn’t give up. It took a long time for them to find Jesus. It would have been so easy at times to turn around and go back to where they came from. Paul stated in Philippians 3:13-14: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on…”
Have a habit of looking up. The wise men kept their eyes heavenward, watching the star. We, too, can look up. Our Father is in heaven. We look to Him for strength, for direction, for wisdom. Instead of saying, “Look up at the positive,” I mean, “Eyes up to your Father, your Strength, your Helper!”
Have a habit of surrendering ourselves. My beloved once mentioned in a sermon that the wise men laid themselves down and THEN their gifts. They “laid themselves down.” In present day application, that would be a daily dying to self. What would 2023 look like if we practiced that habit? What could and would God do with us if we were completely yielded to Him. As faithful, as kind, as trustworthy as He is, why is it scary to follow His leading? In 2023, let’s be fully surrendered to the Lord and His perfect will.
Have a habit of surrendering our gifts. We may not have gold, myrrh, and frankincense, but each of us has something that can be used by God to advance His kingdom. He gives us talents and abilities that can be a blessing to others. My dear friend, Jennifer, is gifted in painting. She doesn’t paint chapel ceilings like Michael Angelo; it’s something even better. God has allowed her to use this gift in ministry. Her place of employment downsized a couple of years ago. In her new job, she uses painting as a type of therapy. She works with women’s shelters and other special groups. Jen has a mission trip to Kenya planned for next summer. For the last few months, she has been having painting classes and it’s paying for her trip! God put her heart for people together with her gift of painting to bless so many. What if we all laid down our gifts?
The Life Application Study Bible comments about the wise men returning home by a different route, “Finding Jesus may mean that your life must take a different direction, one that is responsive and obedient to God’s Word. Are you willing to be led a different way?”
Three Kings Day is a great day to remember, and celebrate! After all, wise men and women still seek Him!
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Dawn Reed is a pastor's wife and newspaper columnist. Reach her at preacherswife7@yahoo.com.
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