Week Four of Advent

The characters around the birth of Christ are interesting to me. In each of them we see the unique reactions to the Christ child. There is wonder, joy, love, hatred, jealousy, deceit, sacrifice, generosity, curiosity, and much more.

Herod was man who could be described with many adjectives: evil, deceitful, prideful, cruel, ruthless, murderer, insecure, and worried. These words described him way before Jesus came on to the scene. Herod had his own wife executed and her two brothers as well as three of his sons. Somehow he managed to get married 9 times and after his plot against Jesus failed he would be dead in less than a year. Herod had an EVIL INTEREST in Jesus.

The scribes could be described as intelligent, scholarly, religious, and yet spiritually apathetic. The knew the location of the Messiah’s birth, were only a few miles away but had NO INTEREST in visiting Him. They had no spiritual curiosity. Why? We can only guess.

The wisemen, or Magi were astronomers who were also spiritually curious. As scholars, seekers, wise men, they were also humble and willing to ask directions. These three (or however many there were) went to great lengths to see the child. They had to travel a great length over a long time. The trip was expensive and they were willing to leave their homes. They showed SINCERE INTEREST in Jesus.

This is what you do when you have a sincere interest in being with Jesus. You make the effort, even if it is costly. You go to great lengths to bring yourself to Him. You sacrifice for Him. You worship Him. You bring gifts to Him.

When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:10-11

Consider this, the child had done nothing for them, had done nothing for anyone at this point, yet they worshipped Him. Our worship should never be BASED on what God has done for us. We may worship in response to His work, but the BASIS of our worship is who He is, not what He has done.

He was God incarnate; but no miracles, no teaching, nothing done to admire. They brought to Him their faith, love, adoration, devotion, service, joy, loyalty, honor, and humility. They had not lost the wonder. Worship can become habit. Let the Magi teach us, remind us about worship.

Take a moment. Stop and consider Jesus. Worship Him. Don’t be in such a hurry to finish the ritual that you miss the wonder. One of the beauties of Christmas is that it gives us opportunity to show down. Use the traditions to remind us to worship with childlike wonder.

Everyone falls in to one of the interest categories. You can be like Herod, the scribes, or the Magi.

Follow the example of the Magi and bring your gifts to Jesus. Bring yourself, your worship, your treasure. Bring your BEST to Him in 2021!