Grace and Peace

Matthew 2:1-12 (New International Version)

¹After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ²and 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."

³When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: ⁶" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

⁷Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

⁹After 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. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

At the heart of this account are worship, submission and adoration of the magi for Jesus, for as soon as they arrive in Jerusalem, they announced, "We have come to worship him." (v.2). They came for the sole purpose of worshipping Jesus. These men were worshippers and I believe we can learn a great deal by examining what their story.

First, Worship Is Open to All – v. 1

This passage reveals that God had chosen to reveal His plan to these wise men and call them out to come to Judea to worship Jesus, the Savior of the world and the only source of truth. The inclusion of these Gentile wise men helps us see that all the peoples of the world are invited to worship Jesus. But although all are free to worship Jesus, not everyone will choose to do so. We will see this truth in a few moments when the wise men have an audience with King Herod and his religious advisors.

Secondly, Worship Requires Commitment– v. 2

If I were to ask you, "Do you worship God?" Most of us would probably say, "Yes, I worship God every week!" And by that you mean that on Sunday you come to the "worship service" at the church. But there is a distinction between attending a "worship service" and actually worshipping.

Is worship something that we do for just one or two hours a week? True worship is more than that; it requires a commitment of our time and our resources.

When we look at the Magi we see a group of people who were true worshippers. They were willing to commit themselves to worshipping the Lord. Their willingness to make a journey to Bethlehem is only one evidence of that. It should be remembered that this journey demanded a great deal of commitment, of both their time and their resources. It was not an easy journey – travel conditions were at times very difficult due to the weather or to the terrain or the threat of robbery. The desire to express their worship was so important that they were willing to sacrifice months of their lives and even risk their own personal safety. They were enabled by God to travel hundreds of miles, making a long and arduous journey that probably took more than a year. They spent much time, money and energy on their quest to worship the Lord.

Sometimes we may have to interrupt our agenda and our schedules so that we can align our hearts with His. All too often we are interested in worship that fits into our lives and our schedules. We will go to church as long as we get home before the kick off. But if we are only interested in worshipping the Lord when it is convenient is that really worship?

But because True Worship Requires Commitment not everyone will choose to do so. Verse three says, "When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him."

Herod was anything but pleased when he is informed of the birth of a new king in Israel. The scripture says that Herod was disturbed and upset when he heard these things and at all of Jerusalem was disturbed with him. It is not surprising that all Jerusalem was terrified because every time Herod got paranoid, someone died. I imagine that everyone in Jerusalem was fearful that this new report of a kingly candidate would send Herod into one of his murderous rages.

Herod reacts by sending for his advisors and asks (vv.4-7), "And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (5) So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: (6) "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel."' (7) Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.(8) And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."

Herod instructed the magi to go to Bethlehem and make a diligent search for the new king and when they had found him report back to Herod so that he had too could worship him. But Herod had no intention of worshipping Christ. He not only refused to worship but he tried to eliminate Jesus. In verse sixteen we are told that Herod in attempt to kill Jesus had every child under the age of two killed (Matt 2:16).

It should also be noted that the religious leaders who were consulted by Herod also showed no interest in worshipping the king. When Herod asked them where the Messiah would be born they knew the right answer based on their knowledge of the Old Testament Scripture. Even being told that the Messiah had been born did not move them. They showed absolutely no interest in finding the king or worshipping Him. Like Herod they were headed for destruction. Their indifference and unbelief displayed their hardened hearts.

The tragedy is that Herod, the chief priests and scribes, and the population of Jerusalem did not discover the treasure. Although they had the greatest advantage in terms of the potential for discovery, they refused to investigate. In contrast, the magi, who had the least spiritual advantage, searched, discovered and worshipped.

In verse nine we are told as they leave the presence of King Herod: Led by the star, the Wise men make the seven-mile trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. There they found the one they sought, verse nine, "When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. (10) When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."
 
Third, Worship Comes From the Heart (v. 11a)

"And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him." The magi acknowledge in their action the right of this child king to reign and rule in their lives. Their worship was spontaneous and joyful. First, they prostrate themselves before the baby king, and then present him with gifts of great material value, which also have great significance.

They did not leave their gifts with Mary and Joseph, and say, "Congratulations, these are for your son!" and be on their way. What they really wanted was to be in His presence… to be in His glory … and to give Him their worship. They worshipped Him, not for anything that he might do for them but solely for the honor and glory that they might render to Him. They bowed in humble adoration – not to a powerful ruler or a world dictator, but to a helpless child. There were no questions no demands, nothing! They just fell and worshipped. Their actions were not mere religious ritual they came from the heart!

Fourth, True Worship Is Costly (v.11b)

After they fell down and worshipped, the Magi gave the Baby Jesus gifts. Verse eleven continues, with, "And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh…"

The gifts of the Magi were a reflection of their worship. Genuine worship is costly. Do you remember when David was given a chance to sacrifice to God without spending any money? You read about it in 2 Samuel 24, there a man by the name of Araunah, offered to give David everything that he needed for the sacrifice. Do you remember what David said? He said, "I will not offer to God that which cost me nothing." (2 Sam 24:24). David knew that it was impossible to show his thankfulness to God by offering that which did not cost him anything.

Those who truly worship Jesus delight to express their thankfulness by giving extravagantly when they worship Him.  When we make Jesus the Lord of our lives, it means that He is our King. This involves much more than just our financial giving.  However, what we give does reveal whether he is OUR King or not. He wants the first part – the tithe. Worship is recognizing the worth of Jesus Christ in your life. If you not are giving God your best then you really can't call it worship.

Yet do you know what was far better than the gifts of gold, incense and myrrh that these wise men brought, that was better than any of the tangible treasures of this world? It was the gift of themselves in worship to Jesus. What God really desires is ourselves. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

Fifth, True Worship Results in A Changed Life and Direction. (v.12)

"Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way."

God warned the magi in a dream to go home in a different way. Not only did they return by a different route, they returned different men. Once you have met Jesus, your life takes on a new direction. When you have an encounter with the risen Christ and you recognize who He truly is, you will never be the same again. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

May God find in us new hearts and renewed hearts to worship Him this Christmas.  God bless you!

I like Christmas and I'm anticipating what God has in store for us in the next few weeks.  I know He has some material blessings in store for us in the form of gifts and such and I feel sure He has some spiritual blessings in store for us if we will open our hearts to Him.

After all, isn't Christmas supposed to be about Christ? Yes, but here's the catch. We say that, but how many of us actually make Jesus the focal point of how we think about the holiday?

How many of us make Jesus the focal point of how we speak about Christmas—not just about baby Jesus lying in the manger, but about what Jesus' birth accomplished and set into motion?  Jesus' story goes way beyond His birth—all the way to His cross—and an empty tomb—and even beyond that to the throne of the universe.

How many of us make Jesus the focal of how we "do" Christmas, with all its trappings and temptations of materialistic hungering?  Dare we take seriously His words in Luke 9:23, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

And how many of us make Jesus the focal of how we "live" Christmas. Making the meaning of Christmas something that lives and breathes in us, affecting how we live throughout January through November?

I want us to think and act about Christmas differently than the world and society would have us think and act about it. And my hope is that it won't just be for the Christmas season - but that it will become a year round lifestyle for us.

Remember what God wrote through the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:2:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

http://www.time.com/time/

Both TIME and Newsweek have put out their special Christmas editions.  Each features beautiful artwork and articles addressing the nativity.  Although the covers themselves are traditional enough, the articles, in both magazines, cast doubt upon the historicity of the Christmas story.  As one of my heroes, the late Ronald Wilson Reagan, would say, "THERE THEY GO AGAIN!"  The elitist media continues to try to undermine the reliability of the Bible and turn the masses away from faith in God's Word.  This attack on the bedrock of Christian doctrine is unconscionable!  The Apostle Peter wrote,  "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." (2 Peter 1:16)  The virgin birth, as well as the rest of scripture, are not "cleverly devised myths." If the virgin birth is not true, then Christianity is powerless and the gospel is a lie.  Jesus is just one more Jewish martyr and we are still in our sin. BUT…Jesus was the virgin born, sinless, Son of God who lived, loved, died and rose again!  Because He lives…we too, can have eternal life by receiving that precious gift extended from the hand of God through His Son Jesus.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032542/site/newsweek/

Welcome to my brand new weblog, Grace and Peace.  I have undertaken building this site, so I could take advantage of the power of the internet to connect with my friends and share some thoughts about our Lord and Savior, Jesus. 

You might ask, "Why call your blog Grace and Peace?"  Well, first of all it was a popular expression used by the Apostle Paul in greeting those he wrote.  When we write letters, we typically begin with "Dear" or sometimes "My Dearest" or something else more personal.  And the greeting sets the tone for the message that follows, right?  The Church Epistles are not just Paul's letters to a group of local believers, but they are God's letters to us.  They tell us about God our Father, about what we are and what we have right now in Christ Jesus, and about our hope that is steadfast and sure. 

Grace is God's unmerited favor which is ours through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  This grace assures us of peace with God and peace from God.  Since this is the basis of all our hope and joy, I think it makes a great name for this preacher's blog.  Let me know what you think and be sure to drop in often to see what I'm thinking and writing about and to share with me what you think too.