Get Positioned for ChristmasChikamu

Get Positioned: The Wise Men Dedicated

Joseph cooperated. The shepherds celebrated. Mary contemplated. And the wise men dedicated. In Matthew 2:1-2, the Maji are not Jews; they were either Persians or Babylonians. Daniel and his friends were actually studying to be Maji. The Maji were learned, scientific astronomers who could interpret the stars accurately. What is going on here is deeper than meets the eye. We see from this verse that when the Maji arrived in Jerusalem. The question was not, 'Is there anyone born king of the Jews?' They were not in doubt; their question was, 'Where is he that is born King of the Jews?' Historical accounts show that they caused turmoil in Jerusalem. These were men of clout and they practically turned Jerusalem upside down looking for Jesus so much so that King Herod took notice. 

When Herod inquired of the scribes and the religious leaders, without even checking the scrolls, they told him the prophecies say the child will be born in Bethlehem of Judea. The prophecies about Jesus are accurate, even to the place He would be born. The existence of Jesus is not in doubt; there is too much historical proof to buttresses the fact that Jesus lived physically on earth. It is important not to gloss over the fact that the wise men were learned, they were wealthy, and they were scientists. The Bible describes them as wise men and they were seeking Jesus. Even today, wise men still seek Jesus, but fools don't. Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." [NIV].

Everyone that seeks God finds God. Your case will not be different. These men came from Babylon and history tells us that it took them at least two years to travel from where they first saw the star to where Jesus was. Two years of seeking Jesus! 

Matthew 11:2 "They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." The world tries to project people who seek Jesus passionately as brainless. But, we see from scripture that these men were intelligent and here they were bowing to a baby. From time immemorial people of worth and quality recognized the Lordship of Jesus and bowed to Him. They were not worshipping a baby as a baby; they were worshipping the King in the baby as their Lord. 

Then, they opened their treasure chests and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. To be blessed like the wise men, you and I need to dedicate our time, our treasures, and our talents to Jesus. God wants us to be positioned in such a way that like the wise men we can say we are actually seeking Jesus. And what happens when you give God your time, your talent, and your treasure? He multiplies it. Romans 6:13 "…give yourselves completely to God—every part of you—for you are back from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes." [TLB]

To be tools in the hands of God and to be used for His good purposes; Joseph cooperated, became a tool in the hand of God, and he was used for God’s good pleasure. The shepherd celebrated. They became tools in the hands of God used for His good pleasure. Mary contemplated. She became a tool in the hands of God used for His good pleasure. The Maji were dedicated and they became tools in the hands of God to be used. 

Let's turn the Wise Men’s response into a prayer today: Lord Jesus, I give myself completely to You -every part of me and I ask that You use me as a tool in Your hands for Your good purposed, in Jesus' Name.