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With two Sundays in Advent already gone by and only two more yet to come, I want to continue to encourage us to focus our attention on constructive places. The example of the magi in Matthew 2:1-12 has much to teach us in terms of the tenor of our worship during this season and throughout the year.
First, it is a worship of joyful devotion (v. 10). When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. It’s a strong phrase – exceedingly great joy. They were ecstatic! Notice that their joy was not hampered by traveling hundreds of miles, a bad reception in Jerusalem, and/or the risks of being so far away from their homes. The object of their joy was a star brightly shining and leading them to Jesus, the Messiah. This may or may not be a convenient season in your life. What will shape the joy quotient in your worship? Circumstances or Christ.
Second, it is a worship of reverent devotion (v. 11a). When they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. There is a time to jump up and down in joyous celebration; there is a time to fall on your face in humble adoration. The Greek word for worship literally means to kiss towards.
Think of the faith and vision in these respectable men. Based upon Jewish Scriptures they have come all this way to a country that could care less, in a peasant poverty-stricken home, before a fragile, vulnerable infant. By God’s grace they were enabled to see beyond the natural, explainable, and predictable, and fall down and worship.
Third, it is a worship of sacrificial devotion (v. 11b). When they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They spared no cost. They offered their best. They made sacrificial gifts befitting a King.
Have you ever thought about the fact that the first recorded worshippers of the Jewish Messiah in Matthew’s gospel are Gentiles? Surely one reason for that testimony is a reminder to us that missions exists because worship doesn’t. The Good News must go to others yet to come and worship the Christ. What better gift to give to Christ this Advent than a contribution to HeartCry or some other mission organization?
Fourth, it is a worship of obedient devotion (12). Being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. I don’t imagine they soon forgot this trip! Now comes a visitation from God in a dream. Don’t go to Herod. They obeyed God at the risk of their very lives. It is not true worship of any kind if we do not give ourselves in obedience to the commands of God as they come to us from His word.
Will you pray with me and ask the Lord to increase these quotients in our lives during this Advent season? Joy, reverence, sacrifice, obedience.
Whoever the magi were, they have left us with an enduring example we do well to imitate.