A Reason for Joy
I am finally having some good rest at night. That is helping with my overall strength and energy levels. Today Debbie and I had lunch with Sue and Sam Schmidt and Gwen Kovac. We enjoyed the time with them and hearing some great reports about Sue and Sam’s church that we will visit in coming weeks.
Outside of that it has been a restful day and one of preparation for the coming week. Debbie has a fairly intense schedule and only has Christmas day off this week. We hope to go to Lakewood to join Christian and family on Christmas Day.
For those who read on a regular basis, I made reference to a job interview. The Lord answered prayer (at least Debbie’s :)) I didn’t get the job, but the process was good to go through. I had mentioned not having interviewed for a job for over 20 years. I also realized I had never interviewed for a job that I didn’t get!
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10,11
There is much mystery about the visit of the “wise men.” It is clear from the Bible text and the edict of death from King Herod that Jesus was two or younger at the time of the visit. We really don’t know how many and how extensive their gifts were. However, based on the common practices of the day in recognition of a new King, there would have been an large group and gifts that were worthy of the person and the occasion.
When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon her gifts included, “…one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones….” 1 Kings 10:10 I believe we can picture not three gifts but a house filled with gifts that included gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The other aspect of the wise men’s journey of note is their response to the star that lead them to the house where Christ was. The Bible says, “they rejoice with exceeding great joy.” What did that look like? What comes to your mind when you think of “rejoicing with great joy?” A super bowl win, a world series championship, a come from behind win, the birth of a baby, the unexpected bonus? What has created the greatest rejoicing in your life and how did you respond? I would imagine that it included laughter, loud voices, “high fives” hugs, dancing and an euphoria that comes from the release of strong emotion. I believe the wise men’s response included that type of response, minus the “high fives” (maybe)
They rejoiced, they humbled themselves in worship and awe and they presented gifts, they opened their treasures. I find what we observed in the life of the wise men is a model for us today when we encounter Christ.
I recall a college student who helped on our worship team and she would consistently worship with joy, lifting her hands, bouncing up and down. There were a few grumblers who did not relate to or appreciate the exuberance. One day at the end of worship I slipped to the side of this young woman and asked her to share what the Lord had done for her. She shared about a broken home, suicidal tendencies and living a pretty “wild life.” But then, the light of Christ pierced the darkness of her life and she was changed. Despair turned to hope, purpose replaced aimless living and love from the Lord filled her life. My response was, “when you encounter Christ like that, it is easy to rejoice like like that!”
A personal encounter with Christ still brings unspeakable joy. Then there are those times when we understand the greatest of God and depth of our need and all we can do is bow and worship in honor and reverence the One who is “our all in all.”
When God touches our heart, we open our treasures. I don’t believe you can have a true encounter and relationship with Christ and be a “stingy” person. God is a giver and when He is in our life, we give. We give in worship, we give in faith, we give in obedience, we give so Christ can make a difference in others as we have experienced ourselves.
Wise men (people) today are those who, rejoice, worship and give as a result of their encounter with the living Christ, God’s gift, God’s Son.