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Matthew 2:9 - The Gift of Worship.

Matthew 2:9 (ESV) After listening to the 
king, they went on their way. And behold, the star 
that they had seen when it rose went before them 
until it came to rest over the place where the 
child was.  

INTRODUCTION

[The magis] gift was the first that was 
laid at His feet. And through that gift, what 
privilege of ministry was theirs!  If we have given 
our hearts to Jesus, we also shall bring our 
gifts to Him. Our gold and silver, our most 
precious earthly possessions, our highest mental and 
spiritual endowments, will be freely devoted to Him 
who loved us, and gave Himself for us. DA65 
[Remnant SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   As the years go by, its interesting to 
see what Christmas gifts have fallen in and out 
of fashion. For instance, the hottest gift of 
1975 was the Sony Betamax. It recorded television 
programs and came with a whopping price tag of 
$2,300. 
   Another popular, less-expensive gift from 
the same year was the mood ring. It changed 
colors according to whatever mood you were in. And 
believe it or not, it was one of the hottest gifts 
of that time. 
   Also hitting the market in 1975 was the 
pet rock, which simply was a rock in a box. But 
it was one of the biggest gifts of the year, 
and 1.3 million of them were sold. 
   For Christmas in 1983, people stood in 
line for hours for the Cabbage Patch Kids doll. 
They were almost impossible to get. 
   The Bible tells us about gifts that 
mysterious messengers from the East brought to Jesus. 
They were called Magi, and in keeping with their 
office, they were schooled in astrology, astronomy, 
and mathematics. 
   Although the Magi brought three gifts - 
gold, frankincense, and myrrh - the Bible 
doesnt say there were three wise men. And calling 
them the kings of the East isnt accurate, 
either, as they were more like kingmakers, those who 
would influence the king. 
   They made the journey from the East and 
arrived in Jerusalem. There they had an audience 
with King Herod, and they inquired about this 
King of the Jews. And then they made their way to 
Bethlehem, following the star and looking for a newborn 
King. 
   They understood what their objective was. 
They realized what was more important than 
anything else - that it was a time for worship. And 
God invaded their world. 
   There is only one God who is worthy of 
our worship, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ 
whom we celebrate at Christmas. Whatever world 
you live in, whatever lifestyle you have chosen, 
and whatever belief system you have, Jesus 
Christ can invade it. 
   The Magi, or so-called wise men, were 
into astrology. They looked to the stars to chart 
their course and guide them into the future. So, 
God came to them in a way that they could 
understand: through a star that guided them out of the 
darkness and into the light. 
   They made their way to where the child 
Jesus was, and they brought their gifts to Him. 
This serves as a reminder that wherever we are 
and whomever we know, no one is beyond the reach 
of God. 
   Maybe you have children that youve 
raised in the way of the Lord, but theyve grown 
up and have gone astray. Maybe you wont even 
see them this Christmas. Or maybe you will, but 
you know there will be tension. You wonder how 
and when God will ever get hold of them. But 
know this: God always has His people in every 
place to reach the lost, no matter their 
background or what they believe. 
   God reached the Magi and brought them to 
faith. And He can reach your family, your children, 
and your friends as well. [Greg Laurie from 
Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

   On this second Sunday of Advent, David 
and I are in our favorite early-morning spot in 
our living room, drinking coffee. "Guess it's 
about time for T. S. Eliot," I say, handing him a 
book dog-eared for our annual read of Eliot's 
Journey of the Magi. 
   "A cold coming we had of it ...," he 
begins. 
   I sit back cupping my mug of hot coffee, 
following the long, difficult trek of these wealthy 
kings who, led by a star, ventured into an unknown 
and desolate land. How completely surprised they 
must have been to find God born in a stable, as a 
poor baby. 
   The birth of Jesus, one Magi lamented, 
was the death of his old life, as he returned to 
his palace where he was no longer at ease. 
   Let's be honest. The journey to Christmas 
is difficult for many of us. Beyond the work, 
there are sacrifices that we struggle to make, 
both financial and personal. Do I really have 
time to buy a coat for the poor child, or spend 
an entire day preparing a party for refugee 
families? Who can help me scrub the kitchen at the 
temporary homeless shelter? 
   Tonight we will light the peace candle on 
our Advent wreath. And hearing the poem, I know 
I don't want to end up like the Magi, longing 
for a different way. Instead, I want to meet the 
child where He is waiting... with the homeless, 
the needy, the stranger in a foreign land. 
   Join me on the journey. Sure, we'd rather 
stay in our comfort zone. We'd rather hang on to 
our money. We'd rather not get our hands dirty. 
But something precious, profound, and very real 
waits: the peace of Christ. 
   Father, point the way for each of us, to 
the place where we will find the Christ. Pam 
Kidd [Walking in Grace 2021 Devotional by 
Guideposts and Zondervan] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 

Philippians 2:7 - God among Us.

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20221218-1024.html 

Matthew 25:31-46 - The Parable of The Sheep 
and Goats; The Final Judgment. 

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210524-1002.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/