Let Us Adore Him

“Yes Lord, we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be all glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing”

  “When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11 CSB)

Mary’s heart must have felt like it could burst with adoration. I can’t imagine the things she pondered as she held her Son—the Godsent promised Messiah. I can’t fathom the worship that must have departed from her lips when she cradled the One who was present from the beginning of time in her arms.

The magi left so they could see Him. And they adored Him.

How long had they been waiting for a holy sign in the sky? And when it suddenly appeared, did they leap with joy and anticipation for what it meant—the fulfillment of prophecy and the coming of the Messiah?

They saw the sign because they anticipated it. They were looking.

Here is where we miss the mark: we so often aren’t looking for or seeking God. But these Wise Men, these Gentiles, were earnestly watching. They weren’t oblivious to the shift in the heavens. But we are so often oblivious to God’s voice and to the ways He speaks to us.

So, the magi left home and traveled afar—crossing difficult terrain and leaving family and comfort— because they were certain something divine was beckoning them. When they arrived by the star’s guiding light and came face to face with King Jesus, they fell prostrate before Him in worship. And I wonder what Jesus’s earthly parents thought of their Son as these men bowed before Him in adoration. Did it occur to them that one day every single knee would bow before Him? The magi then placed their best gifts in front of Jesus, ones reserved for royalty: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

So, what does all of this mean for us? Here are some truths we can take from their example:

1.     There is effort in seeking.

Most of us would say we want to know God and recognize His leading. But this doesn’t happen when we passively sit by. Knowing Him—seeing Him—takes effort on our part. This isn’t always something I do well. These wise men traveled a long, difficult journey so they could behold the Messiah. They were dedicated to seeing the One for whom the heavens were altered. They likely arrived when Jesus was already one or two years old. Did their journey last that long? No one is quite sure. It’s so easy for us to behold Jesus and to know Him, but so many times we miss Him because we aren’t seeking Him. He desires to be found and longs for us to know Him.

2.     Beholding Him leads to worship.

Did you notice what happened when the wise men saw Jesus, when their eyes witnessed God in flesh? They fell face-down in adoration and were completely overwhelmed with joy. Joy! These men weren’t even Jews, but they recognized Jesus’s deity. And the only appropriate reaction to beholding Jesus was to worship Him. If we’ve seen the Savior, then our lives should overflow with adoration for Him. Everything we do becomes an act of worship to the One who came here to be with us.

3.     Worship compels an offering.

The wise men brought baby Jesus gifts reserved for royalty. And I can’t imagine what went on in Mary and Joseph’s hearts as these men laid down their gifts before their child. Maybe the magi didn’t fully comprehend the significance of this moment. Maybe they had no idea this baby would one day be the Savior of all people—Jews and Gentiles. But there is one thing they clearly understood: He deserved not only their worship but their best offerings. These gifts in themselves are a beautiful act of worship.

What can we bring before our King? What do we have of any value that He doesn’t already possess? What do we offer that isn’t stained by our imperfection?

We actively seek Him; we bring Him our worship and adoration; we offer Him ourselves.

What does that look like for you? Whatever you have, give it to Him. Whatever your best looks like, let it belong to Him. He is the giver of all things, but we have the tremendous joy of giving ourselves to Him in return. Come! Let us adore Him! Come, let us bow down before Him!