January 3

Matthew 2:1-12 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Observation

Many confused nativity scenes place the Magi and the shepherds together at the place and time of Jesus' birth. A more careful reading of this passage and Luke 2 (the shepherds' encounter and adoration of the Christ) suggests that the Magi (wise men) came to worship the Christ and present gifts at a later time. Not a lot is known about these "wise men from the east" except that they were seekers of truth and that they were granted some special revelation about the arrival of the great Deliverer, the King of the Jews, the Christ. Theologians say that the wise men are likely to have been priests from Persia who would have had knowledge about Jewish prophecies about the Messiah (the Jews had lived in exile in Persia for a long time). They acted on this prompting and traveled a great distance (likely thousands of miles by that uniquely uncomfortable mode of transportation otherwise known as the single-humped camel), bringing gifts to worship the baby Jesus. The insiders, however, the Jewish leaders, were busy with other matters even though they had intimate knowledge of the prophecies that foretold the arrival of the Messiah. Posture (the spiritual/emotional kind, not the curvature state of your backbone) is a sort of steering wheel that we adjust and set for ourselves. We end up doing that which we drive ourselves to do, the things that fill our minds and hearts. Interestingly, these outsiders, the wise men from the east, had this one thing that they were seeking to do, to find and worship the Messiah. Thought the journey was difficult and not without trial and dangers, they celebrated with unbridled joy when they found the Object of their worship. Seeker, worshipers. But those at the center of Judaism, in the great city of Jerusalem where God had poured out revelation after revelation, had a very different posture, which took them to a very different outcome.

Application

How do I live my life with deliberation and forethought, with the objective of becoming a seeker and a worshiper? Of course, I am already a follower of Jesus but often I do not have the posture of a follower, or seeker or worshiper. I get carried away with the cares of living my life and seeking to get things done, and end up in auto-pilot where that "seeking to find" posture is just gone. Having this moment of devotion will greatly help me to set the direction for this day, to at least start my day with the right posture. Seek. Worship. With deliberation and forethought.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for this new day. The things to do list is still there and much about this new day is a carryover from yesterday. But I am excited about the renewed opportunity to seek You and to worship You. Help me to live a more purposed life today. Lead me to meditate and ponder and even wonder more on who You are to me.

--John Hong