LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Monday 26th December 2022
THE WISE MEN
Scripture Reading: Matthew 2
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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2
The birth of Jesus was followed by a visit from wise men who came from the East. Their visit reveals how well they interpreted the sign they had seen.
• The wise men came from the East. The wise men saw the star at the birth of Jesus and had been pursuing the star for about two years. Theirs was a determined pursuit. Through hills and valleys, towns, and villages, they trekked for months to come and worship Jesus.
The wise men teach us the need to persist in pursuit of the Lord. Worshipping God is a long-term aspiration. We must make it our life’s mission to follow the Lord with all of our hearts, minds, and bodies.
• The wise men came looking for a king. Jesus is described as the King of the Jews. At an early age, the wise men were able to identify Jesus as King, whereas His own people were not able to recognize Him as their King.
We are not just celebrating the birth of Christ; we are also acknowledging Him as our King. He must continue to rule and reign in our hearts.
• The wise men came to worship. It is amazing that God revealed the birth of the Messiah to the visitors from the East so that they would come to know and worship Him.
The wise men indicated that the purpose of their trip was to worship the Child that was born. They did not come to teach the Child but to yield to Him. In this season, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, may unbelievers come from every nation and tribe to worship our King.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, let’s remember to spend time giving Him our worship.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the King of my life. Grant me the wisdom to follow your will and give you my worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen!