When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On 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, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11 NIV
We can all debate the place of reading and following stars, or we can simply marvel at the universal appeal of the birth of Jesus to the entire world. The boy was not born solely for his fellow Jews alone but for the whole world. How else would God have proved his gift was for the whole world, if He did not bring people from the East to come and seek the king that was born. We do not know how far East they lived, or how long they travelled for, but we were told they came from the east. Either by the science or superstition of star reading, they knew there was something amazing about the star they just saw, and they made up their minds to seek out the truth about the star and the King it seemed to speak about. That is God for you: able to speak, even in the most distressing of circumstances.
They came to Jerusalem, and in a city that already had a king, they declared that they had come to worship another king. I don't know why they did not think about the effect of their words, but it is also clear that God's Word was going to be fulfilled, no matter what man's great efforts were. While they went in search of the king, Herod and his entire court in Jerusalem were troubled. As it was then, so is it today too. Men are still troubled about their prestige, position, privileges, possessions and power, but forget that there can only be one king. Yes, there will be temporary pretenders to the throne; men who will think that they can dictate the course of human history. However, it is very clear that a man can only be whatever it is that God allows him to be. What am I holding on to now that is not in line with God's will for me?
The drama in Herod's court and Jerusalem did not bother the wise men. They came to the house where the child lay, and they offered him gifts; gifts which had prophetic impact on the life, times and future of the child. How would adults worship a child, if they did not know anything about the child? The wise men had no doubt they were in the presence of a king, and they responded accordingly. The same message goes to all of us today: do we know this King that has been born, and deserves to be worshipped? Do I need to be begged or cajoled to worship this king? Would I even go out of my comfort zone to know this king and to offer him my best and my all? These men came and worshiped, giving their best. The same is expected of me this season. Don't just eat and drink; make sure your heart is totally given to the king of all of the earth. He will not take anything less than my all. God's time of favour is here.
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