Seek and worship the king
MATTHEW 2:1-5a | RACHEL DODDS
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied.’
We know little about exactly who these magi were, how many they were, or exactly where in ‘the east’ they travelled from to Jerusalem.
TWhat we do know is that they must have been wise to the Old Testament Scriptures, and longed to find and worship the Saviour of whom they read. At the appointed time, God spoke to them through Scripture and nature, declaring the arrival of the promised King and guiding them to Him. Their seeking hearts motivated them to undertake what was likely a long, arduous and dangerous journey… the sole purpose being their desire to worship Him. In contrast, Herod, an insecure and jealous king, only sought the baby Jesus with the motivation of removing a threat to his own pride and prosperity.
Have our hearts been awakened to seek after Christ? Do we long for nothing more than to see His face and worship Him, or are we content with just showing face on a Sunday? A.W. Tozer wrote, “We have been snared in the coils of spurious logic which insists that if we have found Him, we need no more seek Him.” But to know Him is to want to know Him more. Let us emulate the wise men in their intrepid desire to seek His face above all else, and truly worship Him as Lord of all. God not only rewards those who earnestly seek Him, but will also equip us with the motivation and direction we need, if we ask it of Him.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
Our Father, we thank you for the treasures that are to be found when we seek the Lord Jesus wholeheartedly. We repent from our apathetic attitudes towards Him. Help us to truly seek to know Him more abundantly, that we, like the magi, may prostrate ourselves before Christ and give Him the honour and glory He is due. Amen
