12/30/10 Matthew 2:10-12 Seeking, Giving, Adoring Magi

10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx35_DRIZ8g ("We Three King" King's College, Cambridge)

(Adoration of the Magi- Boticelli 1470-1475)

Thoughts: God blessed the wise men for seeking Him, and sacrificing their time to worship and give to Him.  So God warns them in a dream to not go back to Herod, and they return home safely.  These wise men did not just give a king some gifts, but they bowed down in worship to a baby.  This is such a contrast to the people of Judea who were stirred about the news the wise men brought but did not lift a finger to try to find this king-baby.  The people of Judea had more reason to find the king for the baby would be of their own people, and prophesied from their own scriptures, and they would not have nearly as far to travel as the wise men.  Yet, even religious people can become secular and so satisfied with the status quo that they do not expect God to act at all.  Herod was not apathetic, but sought to kill the baby.  The wise men travelled far, long, asking for directions as they went.  All the while they expected to find that baby-king.  We should be seekers who ignore the secularism around us to find God breaking into life.

Prayer: Help me Lord, to be a giver and not a comfort-seeker.  Help me to have eyes to see and seek your hand at work.

John Calvin Abridged: When they found the baby they were no doubt in shock at how humble this king would be.  They are able to see the purpose of God for the baby in their mind's eye and are able to overlook the humble circumstances.  There is no reason to get caught up in the symbols of the gifts, or that each king would present the gift separeately.  We too should concecrate ourselves and all we have to His service.