Worship Him!

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

Matthew 2:1-2

It was customary growing up when attending a birthday party to bring a gift.  It wasn't a requirement to attend, but it was a polite and kind thing to do in response to the gracious invitation.  One of the first matters to attend to upon arrival was to hand the card or gift to the birthday boy or girl or give it to an appropriate person to place it with the others.  The formalities out of the way, then it was time to enjoy the company of your friend and the festivities planned in his or her honour.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the east came seeking the King of the Jews to worship him.  Instead of responding to a gilded invitation with a wax seal, they observed "His" star in the east that heralded His arrival.  While much is made of the kingly gifts they brought with them, the primary reason these great men sought the King of the Jews--who was revealed to be Jesus Christ--was to worship Him.

Matthew 2:11 says, "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh."  When the wise men entered the house, upon seeing the young Child they fell down and worshiped Him.  They prostrated themselves in reverence of the little One who would one day hang upon Calvary with the title and accusation written by Pilate in Greek, Hebrew and Latin placed on the cross, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS."  After worshiping the young Child as their Sovereign, they presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  While these gifts were worthy of a king and of great monetary value, the joy these men had in falling down before the KING OF KINGS was the most worthy gift they could offer as men created in God's image.

We need not have any money to bow before God and worship and offer ourselves to Him.  Everything is God's, but not everyone is willing to be God's.  How it blesses the LORD to see people looking to Him in faith, falling down before Him in humility and offering praise to Him with joy!  It is not what we can give God, but all He is and has done for us which moves us to worship as it is written in Psalm 34:1-4:  "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. ² My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. ³ Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. ⁴ I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."  

How blessed we are to worship the LORD!