Find Hope: Matthew 1-4Намуна

Am I doing it right?

Do you ever feel the pressure to do what you are "supposed" to do, or to do it the way you are "supposed" to do it?

Even when it comes to following Jesus, we can feel pressure or be intimidated by people who are better than us—better at praying, better at reading their Bible, or even better at worshipping.

I love that the first people we see worshipping Jesus in Matthew's gospel are three wise men from the east—that is, they were foreigners from outside Israel who, in many ways, don't have a right to be there at all, let alone be first in worship.

But that's the gospel; it's not for the impressive or obvious. There is no favoritism with God; his mercy is for whomever would come to Jesus.

As a result, the worship of the wise men isn't complicated by pressure to do it the right way. It's a simple combination of exceeding joy, humility, and gifts. They rejoice to see the king; they fall down in worship, and they bring their gifts to him. It's all response.

Worship is what happens when you encounter the glory of Jesus. You don't have to do it a particular way; it's just a response to who he is. He satisfies, he humbles, and he provides us with something to offer in worship of him—our time, our talents, and our treasure. It's all from him and all for him.

Today, ponder this: Because worship is a response, it is fueled by encountering Jesus. Jesus dwells in us by His Spirit, but he also uses means to reveal himself to us—his Word, his church, obedience to his will. How can you pursue Jesus today so that worship might result?