Matthew 2:1-12

"They bowed down and worshipped Him."  Matthew 2:11b

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, magi or wise men came from the east seeking the Christ child. When they arrived in Jerusalem they asked, "Where is the One who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."  (Matthew 2:2)  The Magi were not part of the religious order of God's people of that day by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, God's people at that time would have considered the Magi to be pagans.  Notice, however, the Magi were coming from a long distance to worship and bow down before Jesus Christ, the Son of God!  The Magi recognized Jesus Christ as worthy of their worship.  Meanwhile, the religious people of that day were basically ignoring the birth of our Lord.

Where is Jesus Christ in our lives?  Are we daily seeking a deeper relationship with Him?  Do we have the zeal and desire of the Magi to bow down and worship Him?  "Where is the One who has been born king of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:2a)  What would be the answer to that question in our lives?  Is Jesus both the Savior and Lord of all areas of our lives?  Is He Lord and King over our careers, families, and our daily pursuits and habits?  Has He made a difference in our character and attitudes?  Is Jesus Christ and our desire for Him our consuming passion?

When the Magi came to Jerusalem asking about the Lord Jesus, King Herod and all the people of Jerusalem were upset and in an uproar.  Herod and the people did not want their prized security disturbed.  They prized the security of their daily routines and pleasures above the Lord Jesus. They were seeking and not finding peace in this world.

Peace, however, is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ!  We must be on guard against making the world's pleasures and securities more important to us than our relationship with the Lord.  We must be daily seeking to grow in our love relationship with the Lord through the reading and obeying of His Holy Word.  We must also daily seek the Lord in prayer.

The Magi came to worship the Lord Jesus.  This caused them a great deal of effort, time and sacrifice on their part.  Apparently, however, the Magi felt it was essential to come and worship the Lord Jesus.  We also must daily take time to commune with Him and be occupied with the Lord.  We may and must go to Him with our needs.

We must also thank Him for our blessings.  We, however, must further be occupied with the worship of the Lord Jesus.  Our entire lives must be a sacrifice of praise, thanks, and worship. Notice the Magi brought no gifts to the reigning King Herod.  They brought their gifts to the Lord Jesus.  More importantly, they brought their worship and their lives as a sacrifice of praise to the Lord.  It must be our passion also that our lives will be a sacrifice of praise to the Lord.  "Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of Gods' mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship."  (Romans 12:1)