How Do You Honor Jesus?
Do you honor Jesus? If yes, how do you honor him?
Today we are celebrating the twelfth day of Christmas. Epiphany means ‘to make known’, ‘to show’, or ‘to reveal’. The kings revealed Jesus as the Lord and King to the world. But they also showed us how to approach him. Let’s see what we can learn from the wise men.After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:
You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah,
because from you will come one who governs,
who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route. (Matthew 2: 1-12, CEB, emphasis added)
The kings traveled from far to honor Jesus. Traveling has never been cheap. But it has always meant leaving the comforts of home and a familiar way of living. But the kings wanted more than anything to see the newborn Christ. So they gave up everything to honor the Lord and King of Kings.
Do we give up everything to honor Jesus?
Do we give our best – like the kings – to Jesus?
Or do we reserve the best for ourselves?
“I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me by bringing their best to me.They’re saying it everywhere: ‘God is greater, this God-of-the-Angel-Armies.’ “All except you. Instead of honoring me, you profane me. You profane me when you say, ‘Worship is not important, and what we bring to worship is of no account,’ and when you say, ‘I’m bored—this doesn’t do anything for me.’ You act so superior, sticking your noses in the air—act superior to me, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! And when you do offer something to me, it’s a hand-me-down, or broken, or useless. Do you think I’m going to accept it? This is God speaking to you!” “ (Malachi 1:11-13, MSG, emphasis added)
Honoring is giving Jesus our best, not our second-best.
Honoring is worshiping.
Honoring is sharing God’s love with others.
If we have met our Savior and Lord like the wise men, we can never go back to a ‘business as usual’ way of life. The Good News of Jesus Christ is not a private matter. We are called to corporate worship. We are called to share God’s love with everyone. We are called to give our best -talent, time, wealth- to Christ.
It is our time to go out to the world and reveal the King of Kings to the world.
It is our time to honor and worship Jesus.
It is our time to put our best into God’s use.
Gracious God,
Forgive us dishonoring you
by being selfish, arrogant, and unloving.
Change our hearts and minds, Lord!
Show us how we can best honor you!
We give you our everything.
Use us as you please.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: How do you honor Jesus?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you honor God with everything you’ve got!
Image courtesy of Dave Armstrong. Linking up today with Brag on God Friday.