Choose Christ!
It seems like just last week we were finishing up our Thanksgiving turkey. It’s been a busy fall with kids finishin’ up football and small school baseball and softball and stock shows. Then, they moved right to basketball
We’ve had work to get done like wheat planting, backgrounding calves, and fall harvest have all kept folks busy. Oh yeah, and Christmas shopping! As I write this, we haven’t even had Christmas gatherings yet! As we think about Christ, I have a question. And it is this: Who or what do we (you and me) worship?
I think about the magi (wise men) being led by God, traveling a great distance to come see and worship the One who would be King.
The magi arrived in Bethlehem having followed a certain bright star. They inquired of the locals wanting to know the whereabouts of the One who had been born King of the Jews.
And if you look in your Bible, you will see that these goings on peaked Herod’s interest. He even asked the religious leaders details about a Messiah that was to be born. And out of the writings of the prophet Micah 5, they determined that He was to be born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is just outside of Jerusalem about 5 miles.
Herod secretly sent for the magi, and after visiting with them, he invited them to go to Bethlehem and find this boy who would be King.
After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
(Matt 2:9-11 nasb)
The magi sought Jesus yet they did not know Him. And when they found Him they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. And they even brought the young King some awesome presents!
The religious leaders that Herod talked to knew He would come, but though they lived a mere five miles away, they did not seek Him even after the magi inquired of the One born to be King of Israel. It turns out, they were not ready for a change. And they were not ready to worship the living King! They would rather worship their traditions.
And then there is Herod… Herod the “Great,” as he liked to be known, sought to kill the one who would be born the Messiah and grow up to be King of the Jews! And in Matthew, he kills every boy child under the age of two in Bethlehem, just to make sure.
Yes, the magi sought to worship the One they knew not, but they came to know Him! The religious leaders went through the motions but sought to worship no one. And Herod, well he worshiped only Herod! Let’s choose Christ!
As we head into 2020, ask yourself, “Where am I in this?” Are you like the magi; seeking to know. Or are you like the religious leaders; going to church, but yet failing to ever know God who came to dwell among us? Or are you hardened like Herod; not wanting to worship anyone but yourself? Jesus said that if we just stop and take up our old nets, He would make us productive fishers of men! Happy New Year!
Choose Jesus, choose life! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And y’all KEEP PRAYIN’ for RAIN! Amen