3 When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. 4 He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In Beit-Lechem of Y’hudah,” they replied, “because the prophet wrote,
6 ‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”[Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:1(2)]
7 Herod summoned the Magi to meet with him privately and asked them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Beit-Lechem with these instructions: “Search carefully for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had listened to the king, they went away; and the star which they had seen in the east went in front of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 Upon entering the house, they saw the child with his mother Miryam; and they prostrated themselves and worshipped him. Then they opened their bags and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 But they had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they took another route back to their own country.
"Our Search Ends In Worship" by Author: Jeremiah Bolich
Worship can be understood in many ways. Perhaps, by a world looking at Christians and the churches they attend, worship appears to be a ritual that takes place weekly in a local building where people gather, sing songs, and give tributes to their God. It is true, these kinds of activities do take place, and we Christians would classify them as worship–but this is not the heart of our worship.For the Christian, worship is an attitude of the heart. Our worship manifests in many outward practices and rituals, but to understand the heart of worship, one needs to look beyond the outward activities to the Christian’s identity. The outflow of worship from a Christian is as natural as rain from a storm cloud. It is unstoppable. It is unavoidable. Due to the indwelling richness of the Holy Spirit, the natural consequence is love, peace, joy, and worship.
For Christians, worship is not an isolated or stagnant event, but an ever-present reality that identifies them as children of God.
Hymn for Today: "Angels we have heard on high"
1. Angels we have heard on high,
sweetly singing o’er the plains
and the mountains in reply,
echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
3. Come to Bethlehem and see
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the new-born King.
Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
French:
1. Les anges dans nos campagnes
ont entonné l'hymne des cieux;
et l'écho de nos montagnes
redit ce chant mélodieux.
Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
2. Bergers, pour qui cette fête?
Quel est l'objet de tous ces chants?
Quel vainqueur, quelle conquête
mérite ces cris triomphants?
Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!]
3. Cherchons tous l'heureux village
que l'a vu naître sous ses toits;
offronslui le tendre hommage
et de nos coeurs et de nos vois!
Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Thought for Today:
"‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
"‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”" Matthew 2:6
Please pray:
Please pray:
For people who will see Jesus as a joyous event even in their circumstances and grief.
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