Matthew 2:9-12
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Devotion
Today we will finish our look at what is means to worship fully the Christ of Christmas. In the above text, we find the Magi from the east reaching the end of their journey as they come to worship the One who was born King of the Jews. Jesus is no longer in a stable. The Maji find the star resting over a home where Joseph and Mary were residing with Jesus in Bethlehem. Some scholars agree that Jesus could have been as old as two years old now.
When they saw Jesus, they fell down and worshipped Him. They did not worship Mary or Joseph. Jesus commanded their attention and devotion. They worshipped Him and presented to Him their treasures: gold and frankincense and myrrh. These gifts are significant in that they speak of his birth, life, and death. Gold speaks of His birth since He was born a king. Frankincense speaks of the fragrance of His life. Myrrh speaks of His death.
These wisemen from the East came to worship a King. They presented Him with valuable gifts that had great significance. Their worship obviously involved sacrifice. These gifts were costly. In order to worship fully the Christ of Christmas, it is going to cost us something. When we are fully devoted to someone, it always involves sacrifice. Our relationship with Jesus is no different. Because of who Jesus is, it might just cost us everything. Some have died as martyrs because of their devotion to Jesus. For some it might cost them their future vocation as they are called into ministry. For others, it might mean giving up wealth and comfort to fully worship Jesus. Glory to God in the highest! Jesus, the Lamb of God is worthy of our worship.
Questions to Ponder
Are you fully devoted to the worship of Christ? What gifts do you present to the King of kings and Lord of lords? What sacrifices have you made to worship the Christ? How will you reclaim the true meaning of Christmas this year?
Spend some time in prayer meditating on what God revealed to you today.