"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:11 (NIV)
We are upon another Advent season. Each year, they seem to come sooner and sooner. There are an abundant amount of reasons why Advent is a favorite time of year for me. The greatest is that it is time for us to slow down and focus - focus on what is truly important. As we light our first advent candle, the candle of Hope, this Advent season I will be focusing on the humbleness of those in the Christmas Story. Today, I begin with the wise men.
There are many conflicting stories of who these three men were. Kings? Intellects? Scientists? Regardless of their particular background, it is safe to say that they were important men of their time. Men who weren't of a servant nature. Men who had living arrangements that were above average. Men who were revered by others. They were definitely a higher social stature. As they set out on their journey, little did they know what they would find - and where they would find it.
As the wise men searched for the newborn king, as they followed the star, I can only imagine what was going through their minds. They were looking for a newborn king. Although the star was their guiding path, I would assume they would think there were also looking for a place where a newborn king would reside. Weren't they surprised. Yet, with all that they had, and all that they were, when they saw the newborn king, Jesus, they "bowed down and worshiped him." Imagine, for a moment, kings of our nations today possibly bowing down in a lowly place for a newborn king. Doesn't seem possible, does it? Yet, these three wise men did just that. They humbled themselves to the glory of our newborn king, Jesus. They forgot about their intellect, their high social stature, the people who revered them, and they got down on bended knee to worship a child. That picture of humbleness is beautiful.
During this Advent season, may we learn from those that were humble that first Christmas. From the wise men we can learn much. It didn't matter to them what their place was in the world, it was more important to be humble and bow down before Jesus. The same is so true for us. Regardless of our particular background, it is our time to bow down before Jesus. May the pride that we might have in our lives for our intellect, our material items and our social stature be released to humble ourselves for the true king. May we "bow down and worship him", and help others to see the awesomeness of the newborn king this Christmas season. Take time to find ways to worship the True King this Advent Season. I hope to start by reading and re-reading the Christmas story. I always find something new and amazing each time I read it. Let's remember to leave our "wealth" to the side and humble ourselves to Jesus and to each other. When we look at the world through humble eyes, we see such great gifts - like the unconditional love of our Savior. Blessings to all on this first Advent Sunday.
Dearest Jesus, help us to be humbled to you and to each other as the wise men humbled themselves that first Christmas. Let us leave the pride of everyday life behind and may we rest our hearts close to yours as we bow down before you in the manger. Help us, Jesus, to be more like the wise men as we approach each day. In your heavenly Christmas name we pray, Amen.
As the wise men searched for the newborn king, as they followed the star, I can only imagine what was going through their minds. They were looking for a newborn king. Although the star was their guiding path, I would assume they would think there were also looking for a place where a newborn king would reside. Weren't they surprised. Yet, with all that they had, and all that they were, when they saw the newborn king, Jesus, they "bowed down and worshiped him." Imagine, for a moment, kings of our nations today possibly bowing down in a lowly place for a newborn king. Doesn't seem possible, does it? Yet, these three wise men did just that. They humbled themselves to the glory of our newborn king, Jesus. They forgot about their intellect, their high social stature, the people who revered them, and they got down on bended knee to worship a child. That picture of humbleness is beautiful.
During this Advent season, may we learn from those that were humble that first Christmas. From the wise men we can learn much. It didn't matter to them what their place was in the world, it was more important to be humble and bow down before Jesus. The same is so true for us. Regardless of our particular background, it is our time to bow down before Jesus. May the pride that we might have in our lives for our intellect, our material items and our social stature be released to humble ourselves for the true king. May we "bow down and worship him", and help others to see the awesomeness of the newborn king this Christmas season. Take time to find ways to worship the True King this Advent Season. I hope to start by reading and re-reading the Christmas story. I always find something new and amazing each time I read it. Let's remember to leave our "wealth" to the side and humble ourselves to Jesus and to each other. When we look at the world through humble eyes, we see such great gifts - like the unconditional love of our Savior. Blessings to all on this first Advent Sunday.
Dearest Jesus, help us to be humbled to you and to each other as the wise men humbled themselves that first Christmas. Let us leave the pride of everyday life behind and may we rest our hearts close to yours as we bow down before you in the manger. Help us, Jesus, to be more like the wise men as we approach each day. In your heavenly Christmas name we pray, Amen.
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