In the Christmas story, the wise men bring gifts to the Lord: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The gold is listed first, because it is the inmost - signifying good, e.g. the good that we do when we love the Lord and the neighbor.

The frankincense is next. It signifies rational truth, which is the set of true ideas that we know, not about external things like cars or cooking, but about what is really good, and what is really true.

These rational truths are built on earlier knowledges that we learn, before we have really made them our own. Those early knowledges about spiritual things - often learned in childhood - are represented by the myrrh.

In a way, these gifts are really a reciprocation. We can't actually give them to the Lord until the Lord has given them to us. We necessarily start out by learning and doing the Lord's law (myrrh). The Lord can then call up those memories to become rational truths (frankincense). Then, over time, and with effort, those truths can be transformed into good (gold). The wise men from the East had gone through this process of learning and becoming vessels that could receive truths and goods. They were able to perceive the Lord's birth, and find him, and bring gifts to him.

7. 5. I desire you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:8). Jesus emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, wherefore God hath exalted Him and given Him a Name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, in earth, and under the earth (Philippians 2:7-11).

The God of faith (Philippians 3:9).

Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, and that through Him and in Him all things were created (Colossians 1:15-16).

Christ is before all things, and all things subsist in Him, and He is the head of the body, the church (Colossians 1:17-18, 24). In Christ doth all fullness dwell, and by Him all things were reconciled to Himself (Colossians 1:18-20).

In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge (Colossians 2:3).

In Christ dwelleth all the fullness of the Divinity bodily (Colossians 2:9).

Christ sitting on the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 8:1; 10:12; 12:2).

Christ is all in all (Colossians 3:11).

That they all may be in one body (Colossians 3:15).

Do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17). That from the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; ye serve the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:24).

Christ is the head of the body (Colossians 2:19). Life is with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

(Concerning the coming of the Lord, see also Consummation and Judgment.)