Isaiah prophesied that Israel would one day be a powerful and respected nation. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come,” he wrote, “and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” This light would contrast markedly with the darkness in the world generally, and “the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” He even described how these kings would honor Israel: “They shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:1-6).
It’s not hard to see in the visit of the wise men to Jesus, a partial fulfillment of this prophecy. The light of the world had come to Israel, and kings had arrived from the east bearing gifts: “gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11). They had apparently carried these expensive items a great distance because they wanted to appropriately worship the Savior.
In 1872, the poet Christina Rosetti wrote the following words of introspection:
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
“In the Bleak Midwinter,” Christina Rosetti
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
The Book of Mormon prophet Amaleki expressed a similar thought. “Come unto Christ,” he wrote, “and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him” (Omni 1:26).
What does it look like to give Him my heart, or to offer Him my whole soul? Here are some ideas:
- Contributing in small and inconspicuous ways to His work, such as cleaning the chapel or setting up for church services.
- Paying attention to the people around me, and looking for simple ways to serve them.
- Forgiving others more quickly and more completely.
- Dedicating time to heartfelt prayer. Praying for God’s will to be done, rather than asking Him to fulfill my will.
Today, I will approach the Savior with the same reverence and awe demonstrated by the wise men. I will give Him what I can: my heart and my whole soul.
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