The Cost of Worship

The magi in the Christmas story have always carried with them an aura of mystery. Who were these men? Were there really three? How did they know to follow the star? And how do you spell frankincense anyway?

Rereading their story today, I'm surprised by one word that is used several times in the passage--worship. The magi tell evil King Herod, "We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him" (Matt. 2:2). While we don't know exactly where they came from, it's estimated that they may have spent up to two years following the star. That's a long journey for worship. Their travels end at a house in a little town on the outskirts of Jerusalem, not King Herod's palace or the home of a wealthy Roman, but they don't seem to mind. Their immediate reaction when they enter the house and see Jesus is beautiful: "they bowed down and worshiped Him" (2:11).

These mysterious men have convicted me of my own lazy attempts at worship. It's one thing to sing a few songs in church. It's another to put your life on hold for over a year to worship a Child you've never seen. And as I think about the devotion these men showed, I'm ashamed. I know Jesus in a way they did not. They only saw His star; I can read His Word any time I want. They didn't even know His name; I can call Him my Friend, my Savior, and my Lord. But they worshiped Him in a way I have yet to do. May we all become more like the wise men, ready to give up our lives, our agendas, and our desires, so that we can worship Him.

Lenten reading for today: Matthew 1:1-12

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