Dec 21 - Matthew 2:11

 

And when [the wise men]

had come into the house,

they saw the young Child

with Mary His mother, and

fell down and worshiped Him.

Matthew 2:11

 

Worship is a key word in today’s verse. This prompts me to ask: What is worship? It is showing reverence toward God. It is adoration. Praise.

 

Worship is obviously a common word in Scripture, but it is perhaps most uniquely prevalent in Revelation. Why? Because Jesus kept giving John glimpses of heaven. John sees God in his majesty and he sees the proper response of all living creatures when they encounter the Lord’s glory.

 

“Day and night” says the Scripture (7:15), “they worship him in his temple.”

Chapter 4 is John first glimpse of the throne of God, yet the title in my Bible isn’t “God” or “the Throne,” it’s “Heavenly Worship.”

We keep seeing glimpses of those who after they encountered God, “fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped” (7:11, 11:16, 19:4).

With a voice as loud as a trumpet, the angels offer final, desperate cries, hoping to turn stubborn hearts to God: “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth” (14:7).

And finally when all things are restored, we hear: “Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him” (22:3).

 

Worship … what is it? It is showing reverence to God. It is adoration. It is praise. It is humbling ourselves. It is bowing down – maybe falling down – in an awestruck expression of fear and love, wonder and praise.

 

When the wise men encountered Jesus – though he was but a child – what did they do? They “fell down and worshiped Him.” It was reverence and adoration and praise and thanksgiving. Revelation wasn’t written yet, but as they were worshiping, they could have been singing a Revelation sentiment: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (4:11).

 

Did this baby create? John 1 tells us that Jesus is more than a baby. “¹ He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴ in him was life.”

 

The wise men bowed because they discovered life. This Christmas season and this coming year, will you worship him “day and night”? Will Sundays and special services be your priority … or will you let life keep getting in the way? And I ask it this way because the busyness is not life. Jesus is life and worship is what links us to living.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who loses his balance

more easily than he did

in previous decades …

but clumsiness is not why

I ought to fall down

 

Discussion Question:

 

1.    This Christmas season will you worship Jesus “day and night”?

2.    This coming year, will you strive to worship Jesus “day and night”?

3.    Will Sundays and special services be your priority … or will you let life keep getting in the way?

4.    I ask it this way because the busyness is not life. Jesus is life and worship is what links us to living. Therefore, what might you choose to do to prioritize worship more fully (and discover life more wonderfully)?