Prayer: Heavenly Father, knowledge is treasure, a precious gift from You, which I share daily with Your children. It gives them life. Thank You that in Your classroom, I am a Wise Man/Woman bearing great treasure. Amen

Scripture: Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts…. Matthew 2:11 NIV
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Today I affirm that knowledge is treasure, a gift from God. His word tells us that His people perish because of a lack of it. God has given me knowledge and the skills for sharing it just as He has given a singer a song and a great voice or a painter his paints and skill with a brush. I return this great and wonderful gift to God by sharing it and laying it at the feet of His children whom I serve in His classroom. God uses this gift in their lives as He wills.

As baby Jesus was probably not aware of the value of the gifts which the Wise Men set before Him, many of the youth I serve are also unable to comprehend the value of the knowledge and skills I give them each day in the classroom. Still, I share the gift of knowledge with them for the Lord asks me to do so. I enjoy being a treasure-bearing Wise Man even if others don’t affirm, value, or acknowledge it.

I am not slothful in bearing and sharing this gift for I am giving this gift as unto Jesus himself. What I give to the most intellectually or behaviorally challenged student I have given to Jesus. What I do to the least of them, I do to Him. I do not squander time in which I could be sharing this gift. I do not share just enough knowledge to get by or to meet minimum requirements. I go beyond. I fill their minds with as many riches and treasures as they can hold while being careful not to overburden them. I do not share this gift of knowledge for personal pride, glory, worldly authority, or money that others may give me for rendering this service. I do it because I love these youth and the Jesus who I see dwells in them.

As the Wise Men helped Jesus in His youth as He began His journey in life, I want to help these children of God as they begin their divine journeys. This classroom is but a brief stop for them. Will they remember a down to earth, humble stable where they received precious gifts, praise and adoration from shepherds and Wise Men, or will they remember an overcrowded inn and an overburdened, harassed innkeeper who rejected them and had no place or time for them in his successful business?

As the Lord guides me to express and share the treasure of knowledge with His children, He blesses them and me. Together we grow in a greater understanding of God, His creation, and one another. We explore the wonder, wealth, and riches of nature and the mind of man. I pray that as I share this treasure it shall be used to create and perpetuate the kingdom of heaven, God’s love and truth on earth.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you…” (Hosea 4:6). “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Reflection: If I knew Jesus was one of the students I serve, would the quality of service I provide be affected, and if so, how, and why?

Getting Real: The shepherds, shepherdesses, and Wise Men praised baby Jesus. Praise each student for the good things and gifts you see God has given them. They will come to know that they are praiseworthy, gifted, appreciated, and highly valued by you and God. The knowledge of these things is crucial information for all students to know.

Copyright Don Clark. To connect with the author, email ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net

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