WISE MEN STILL WORSHIP HIM
They are called the three wise men. Their story is told in Matthew 2:1-12. They came from the east, seeking the newborn king so they could worship Him. They had seen His star and could not resist the tag on their hearts – He deserved their worship.Why are they called wise men? One they read the stars and understand things many will take for granted. It takes skill to read the stars and I confess that on a dark night the white dotted skies hold no meaning for me whatsoever.Secondly, when they see a King, they know what to do. They come to worship. Wise people know how to respond in whatever situation they find themselves. They do not need to be prodded. And they knew where to go asking – Herod’s. Besides what is wiser than to worship the KING?Today we all know where the King is. If you are a Christian, He is in your heart. And if you are wise, you will worship Him right from your heart.That is the point. The wise still worship Him.The question is, how do you respond to the King today? Do you pay Him lip service? Do you acknowledge Him? Or do you worship Him? The apostle Paul defines the spiritual act of worship as the offer of our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. In the heat and rush of our modern world, where pleasure and possessions are the driving forces, where knowledge and selfishness are they cutting edge, where we are so bombarded with information and noise we can hardly hear or see the King. Our spiritual senses are dulled and the King is pushed to the recesses of our hearts. We have become the new king. The devotion is to self. The adoration is to self. The reverence is for self. The worship is now for self and the True King receives but lip service.As Christmas turns the corner again and the church remembers the coming of her saviour, let us look up and see his star. Let us follow his star with joy. We will be wise to emulate the Maggi from the east. We will be wise to come bow down and worship Him. As we celebrate Christmas, let us reflect on our lives as worshippers. Let us endeavour to present our lives as a sacrifice to Him. A sacrifice that is pleasing and Holy to God. Then we can confidently call ourselves wise because the wise still worship HIM.