This advent devotional is designed to be simple and to be read as a family with children. This is the reading for week three - Dec 15

Light Three Candles

What to read -

Matthew 2:7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 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. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 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. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

What to say

After the smart people told King Herod that the Magi should look for the new king in Bethlehem, King Herod called the Magi. When the Magi came to King Herod, he told them to go look for the new king in Bethlehem. Herod told the Magi, “When you find the new king God has sent, come back and tell me where he is. I want to go see him and give him a present.”

The special star showed the Magi which way to go, and helped them to find the new king. The Magi were very happy to see the star. When they found the new king God had sent, it was baby Jesus. He was with his mother Mary. The Magi had some treasure. They went to their treasure and found three presents for baby Jesus. 

Then the Magi went back home. They did not go to King Herod first. They did not tell King Herod where baby Jesus was, because King Herod was a bad king. King Herod did not really want to give baby Jesus a present. King Herod wanted to hurt baby Jesus.

What to make

Wrap empty boxes to look like gifts. If you can find boxes that are very small you can put them in your Christmas tree.

What to ask

If you could give baby Jesus anything, what would you give him?

During the week

Make wrapping paper and wrap up a gift to give to someone.