Posted: 26 December 2023

From a sermon given on 24 December 2023:

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
(Matthew 2:11)

When the wise men came to the manger and found the child Jesus with his mother, they recognised his deity by falling prostrate and worshiped him. This preceded the opening of gifts

Worship is when we give our deepest affections and highest praise to something. True worship of God is when we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. It’s when we prize God above everything else and put Him first in our hearts. As it says in Deuteronomy 6:4, “…The Lord our God is one Lord

As the festivities gear up and boxes filled to brim, the very essential act of rendering our hearts should not be overlooked. Though the gold, frankincense and myrrh are essential, the heart is what he values most. “The wise men traveled an insane distance over inhospitable territory to see the newborn king. And when they arrived, they saw the child and his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him". Let's worship the newborn king not because there is nothing else to do, but because we can't bear to do anything else” (Mathew Ruttan).

Further readings:

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
(Psalm 95:6)

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
(Matthew 2:2)

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
(Psalm 72:10)