BETHLEHEM – THE CLIMAX OF WORSHIP
The wise men travelled a long journey to bring expensive gifts to worship Jesus who was then only a child. The beginning of worship was when the wise men decided to make the journey. The climax was to knell before Jesus and to present the gifts. The climax was reached because of two factors. One was to find out the general direction (Bethlehem) through the Word and the other was to be led by special circumstances (the star) from God.
Will there be Christians who will not reach “Bethlehem” because they don’t pay special attention to the Word and ignorant/negligent to God’s initiated special circumstances in their lives?
Will there be Christians who will reach “Bethlehem” but arrived empty handed because they squandered the gifts along the journey. The only thing they can do is to knell before Jesus. What will Jesus say and do?
Will there be Christians who will be like the wise men who will reach “Bethlehem”, bow before Jesus and present Him with gifts – the climax of worship?
BREAK UP OR DOWNGRADE?
The common error made by most Christians who were involving in “couple” relationship was to break up and go separate ways when they can’t go further in the relationship. Isn’t this what the non-Christians commonly do? This may bring about one or both leaving the church. The Christ-like approach is to downgrade the “special” relationship to a “common” relationship – being friends or brother and sister in Christ. Christians always live by the Gospel of reconciliation. Christians are supposed to seek a reconciled relationship with God and men everyday. The two greatest commandments are what Christians live with everyday. Now, there is work to patch up our past broken relationships.
WHAT DID WE SEE?
It has always been assumed that there were 3 wise men because of the 3 types of gifts that were presented to Jesus when He was a child. Can it be assumed that the gifts were for the 3 persons in the Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit? It has always been assumed that the wise men visited Jesus on the night when He was borned. It was the shepherds and not the wise men. What did we see this Christmas season? The glitters of gold? or The glory of God?
