Gifts of Worship

I don't know about you, but I don't really like shopping...especially Christmas shopping. I like to shop when I know what I want and where to get it...ebay or amazon. I go into the store with purpose and direction (trying to avoid the pushy sales clerk that can't read my body language that clearly says "If I wanted your help I would have asked for it"), buy whatever I came for and get out. Sometimes I think we...I, get so lost in all the trappings of Christmas that we lose sight of what it is all about. For that , Easter is my favorite holiday...it has greater meaning for me. Until I had to put together my first Christmas message (which goes with the territory) and I was stumped. Thanks to my amazing wife, Heather, who said teach on the "Wise Men". Desperate for something I took her up on the suggestion...and was reminded of what this holiday is all about in its simplest form.

We all know the story of Mary and Joseph having to go to Bethlehem for the census, while there, with no vacancies at any of the inns in town, Mary gave birth in a barn. Jesus's first bassinet was a feeding trough, and the first well wishers were shepherds. I can only imagine what the new parents where thinking..."this is not how I pictured this happening"! Hopefully Mary and Joseph weren't germaphobes!

What struck me in Matthew chapter two was that the Magi, studiers of stars and dreams, came to worship Him. We tend to miss this because we focus on the fact that they brought him gifts...but they brought more that gifts they brought him their worship. God spoke to the studiers of stars about the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14), the Star of Jacob (Numbers 24:17-19) and the Bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)...through the stars. That they might come and worship the King of Kings who will rule and reign forever.

The Magi knew they were coming to pay respect and worship at the feet of a baby or toddler. They didn't come because of what they would receive from him...what could a toddler do for them? They didn't come because what He has done for them...because at this point Jesus hasn't done anything yet. They simply came to offer him their worship, solely on the grounds of who he was...and not wanting anything in return. How often I still come and offer him my worship...expecting something in return!

These very Wise Men came a great distance, exerted energy, spent lots of time and money to come to Jesus. However, when they arrive in Jerusalem and begin to seek him out at the palace they quickly realize the new born King isn't there. The Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law quote from memory the prophecy about the Messiah and where he would be born...a mere five miles away and yet the religious don't bother to join the Gentiles in worshiping the Christ. The religious leaders have been waiting since Genesis chapter three for the coming Messiah yet don't make the time to seek him out. They knew about his coming but didn't want to make the sacrifice to act on that knowledge.

Worship is costly. David got it when he said "I will not offer the Lord anything that cost me nothing". Worship is not in the knowing but in the doing. Our worship of Him might cost us our so-called dignity. It might cost us financially as we begin to tithe and give. It might cost us family and friends. It might even cost us our life.

The Magi came with costly gifts: Gold to acknowledge Jesus as King, Frankincense which was used by the priests in worship...acknowledging Jesus as a Priest, and Myrrh being the spice used in burials...acknowledging that Jesus was to die as a Martyred Prophet. The Wise Men used their gifts to proclaim the three-fold office of Jesus, the Messiah, Gold for the King of King who's reign is everlasting, Frankincense for our ministering Great High Priest and Myrrh for the martyred prophet the Lamb of God that was slain to take away the sins of the World.

So it is only fitting this Christmas season, as well as everyday after, to come and worship Him not with expectations of blessings but simply because He is worthy. To present Jesus with a gift that costs us greatly...our lives as the Apostle Paul tells us: 

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship". --Romans 12:1