To many people Christmas is the favourite season of the year. Maybe this is because to them Christmas is about parties, friends gathering, singing carols. (Well, ok this year that may be slightly different in that respect!!) 😷

But perhaps though we can look at Christmas in a rather different light. So often we think Christmas is about our happiness, about our joy, our fun. But I believe, Christmas should be a time for us to worship.

Let’s take a closer look.

In Matthew chapter 2 we read these words:

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem 2 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".

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 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. 

The central focus of these verses from Matthew is about worship isn’t it?

So let’s take a look at these wise men of the east, and see what worship really meant to them:

*  First of all they took a very, very long journey. How long we’re not entirely sure. But there was no plane to hop on, no posh car to travel in.

*  They came to give gifts to Jesus. To bow before Jesus and to honour him.

*  Notice they came all the way not to get anything from Jesus, but they came to give to him. They came to seek Jesus for Jesus.

(I suppose we live in quite a selfish world and sadly most people expect something in return, but no, not these wise men, they came only to give).

*  And they didn’t just rejoice, but were overjoyed when they found Jesus. Some versions say that when they saw the star over the place where Jesus was, 'they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy’. They were clearly absolutely delighted that they had found him.

BUT WHAT DO WE THINK WORSHIPING JESUS LOOKS LIKE FOR US TODAY?

Maybe we see worship as just coming to church? Or maybe it’s just that slot of singing that we do on a Sunday morning?

Well if we think this is all it is, then we have minimised the wonderful example of worship that we see in the Bible.

No, worship is not just going to church, not just singing on a Sunday - we can’t limit it to just this!

* Worship is in every day we live.

* Worship is in everywhere we go.

* Worship is in everything we do.

Paul tells us this in the Bible "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God". 1 Corinthians 10:31

In other words, whatever we do, it should be to honour God.

Now that’s true worship.

But how do we live our lives in a worshipful way today? How do we "adore Him?"

Well Jesus sees into our hearts. He said this about the religious types of his day “These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me….” To put it in modern terms, “You sing the right songs, you recite the proper prayers and you attend the right services… but your heart isn’t in it.”

That part of us that no one sees is what is most important to Jesus. He sees the way we live our lives when no one is watching. He sees our actions and our innermost thoughts.

It’s not always easy though is it to live for Jesus?

But this Christmas let’s look at the beautiful example of the wise men. They knew the true heart of worship. They came only to give to Jesus, not to grab anything for themselves. When they found him, they rejoiced and they gave him the honour he deserves.

This Christmas then, just like those wise men I invite you all along with me to,  "Come and Adore Him". And if Christ isn’t yet your Lord, then this Christmas make this your own gift to him - YOURSELF. There is nothing greater you could give.

Happy Christmas everyone!!