The Reason for the SeasonSample

What Is Precious to Jesus This Christmas

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.’” (Matthew 2:1-2)

In this Christmas season, we often talk about the Magi, or wise men, who followed a star and traveled to where baby Jesus lay. According to the Bible, the wise men did not arrive at the same time as the shepherds did. That is just what is portrayed in Nativity scenes. And we don’t really know if there were three. We traditionally refer to three wise men because they came bearing three gifts. They gave three valuable things in that culture and economy: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Today, the Lord doesn’t want gold, frankincense, and myrrh from us. He wants something that is actually more precious to him. He wants our hearts; he wants our adoration; he wants our praise.

The Bible enjoins us to “continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Hebrews 13:15). And in 1 Timothy 2:8, we read: “I want everyone everywhere to lift up holy hands...” When we lift our hands, it means, “You are great, and I am small. I worship you. I honor you as God.” It also suggests, “I need you. I can’t make it in life without you.” It expresses, “I love you. I treasure you above all things.”

We don’t lift our hands to any human being here on earth. We lift our hands only to Jesus, our Lord, and Savior. Let’s praise and worship him today, thanking God for sending his one and only Son to this earth and to dwell in the heart of every believer in Christ.