Tag Archives: Heart

Pure Religion

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An Orphan’s Story

I married the granddaughter of an orphan! When my wife’s grandfather was a young boy, his father died and his mother remarried. Unfortunately, her new husband turned out not to be the kind of man she thought he was. He held no regard for her children; when she died, he considered them disposable and had them removed from his home. My wife’s grandfather was a 14-year-old boy when the authorities placed him in an orphanage where he was physically abused. Eventually, the abuse was discovered, and he was moved to a foster home where he was loved and cared for. In time, he came to faith in Jesus Christ and married my wife’s grandmother. Together, they established a Christian home—a home that produced a legacy of faith with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who have grown up loving Jesus. What a great story, right? An “orphan’s story” with a happy ending!

An Orphan Crisis

Unfortunately, that’s the exception. There is an orphan crisis in our world. I was shocked to discover that there are more than 153 million orphans worldwide. That’s staggering! If orphans were a country of their own, their population would rank 9th in the world, ahead of Russia. One hundred million of them live or work on the streets. They survive by selling flowers or cigarettes or by watching cars; many sell their bodies for sex or engage in criminal activity. Many of these street children are subjected to abuse, neglect, and exploitation; in extreme cases, they are murdered by “death squads” paid by governments to “clean up” the image of their cities.

It’s Easy To Become Hard-Hearted

So, why am I sharing all this with you? Why should you care? It’s so easy to become hardened to these images, isn’t it? We’re bombarded with infomercials—the sad faces, the sad music, the compelling stories—all meant to move us to reach into our wallets and pay up. We might even try to rationalize that many of the agencies claiming to help are just siphoning off huge amounts from donations to support elaborate lifestyles for big-name CEOs. But let me tell you why this is important: because we can’t just ignore what God’s Word says about it. God has an opinion, and we need to listen!

Look After Orphans

James 1:27, a statement inspired by the Holy Spirit, says: “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” What was that? “Pure religion” is looking after orphans and widows? Is James supporting a salvation of good deeds? No, he’s not. The book James authored dovetails quite nicely with Paul’s letter to the Romans. James is not saying that your good deeds will result in salvation. Rather, he is saying that the result of genuine, saving faith in Jesus—or “pure religion”—is to love others, including orphans, widows, and the marginalized of society. God gives us a heart to love and serve them.
 

Love Is An Action

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Love Is A Verb

“Someone said it like this: ‘Love is a verb! Without action, it is merely a word.’ Jesus embodied that love from the beginning of His life to the very end, when He died a substitutionary death on the cross to pay the price for the sin of the world. No one ever loved like Jesus loved! ‘No one has greater love than this,’ He said, ‘that someone would lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:13). Jesus was the friend of sinners! And the nearer we are to Jesus, the closer we’ll get to people—that we might serve them like He did!

Too Heavenly Minded

There’s an old saying: ‘Some people are so heavenly minded that they’re of no earthly good.’ We will serve the people of planet earth like Jesus served when we love like Jesus loved! Genuine love is way more than words like, ‘I love you, brother!’ It’s about action. It’s about deeds and service! ‘Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action’ (1 John 3:18). You can tell people you love them, but it’s more effective when you show them! In the famous passage of Scripture where Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, the chapter begins with these words: ‘Now by the time of supper, the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Him. Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God’ (John 13:2–3). Jesus knew what His purpose was for coming to this earth He had created. He also knew where He was going—back to God. So He knew His destiny. He could live His entire life preoccupied with loving and serving mankind!

Pre-Occupied With Love & Service

If we know Jesus as Savior, we also know our destiny. We are destined to live forever with Him! ‘I go to prepare a place for you,’ Jesus told those who followed Him, ‘that where I am you will be also’ (John 14:2–3). It would seem from Scripture that He is doing that right now! From the time He ascended back to the Father, He has been preparing a place for us to live with Him. If we truly believe that is our destiny, it will change our lives! We can serve others with the secure knowledge that Jesus has taken care of our future. That’s why Paul challenged the church in Rome to ‘present your bodies as a living sacrifice… it is your reasonable service’ (Romans 12:1). We will serve like Jesus served when we embrace our destiny!

It’s Only Reasonable To Serve

It only makes sense to serve, Paul says. It is reasonable to give your life away in sacrificial ministry. Jesus served with reckless, radical abandon because He knew His destiny! We can serve in the same radical way. We know that Jesus will take care of us today, and He will take care of our future! ‘Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’ (Luke 12:32–34). Don’t live life in anxiety! Love! Serve! Minister to others! Your future is secure in Christ!
 

Called To Serve

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Leaving For Vacation; Next Post March 18th

A Day Away From Crucifixion

Jesus began His ministry quite impressively. The Gospel accounts reveal that He burst onto the scene. He attracted huge crowds because He spoke differently than anyone had ever spoken before—especially Israel’s priests and other religious leaders. When we get to chapter 13 in John’s Gospel account, Jesus is only a day away from His crucifixion. By now, the crowds have abandoned Him, in part because He began preaching a message of sacrifice and service.

Take Up Your Cross

He told them they needed to crucify “self” and take up their cross daily if they wanted to be His followers. He preached an upside-down kingdom where those who led must serve and where the way to be first was to be last. He turned the world’s leadership style on its head. This is what His church would look like. Many of His original followers wanted nothing more to do with Him. They had followed for selfish reasons, but Christ’s kingdom would be a selfless one. So Jesus is left with twelve followers—and one of them, Judas Iscariot, would betray Him. They met back in Jerusalem in an upper room to celebrate the Passover together.

Jesus Washers His Disciples Feet

John writes: “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist.” (John 13:1–4) Their feet were dirty from their journey. It was common for most travelers to walk. A horse or burro was an expensive luxury for most people. “Roads” were little more than dirt paths. They had no sidewalks or bike paths as we are accustomed to today. Depending on the weather, you either walked through inch-thick dust or through liquid mud caused by rain. It was impossible for sandals to keep the dirt out. Most Jewish homes kept large vessels of water near the front door for every visitor to wash their feet. It was typical in this time period for a slave to wash a visitor’s feet.  

Jesus Served Like A Slave

But when the disciples arrived at the upper room, there was no slave. No servant was prepared to wash their feet, and no one volunteered. In fact, this was the same group that Luke tells us (chapter 22) had been arguing over who was the greatest among them—who would sit at Jesus’ right hand and left hand when He set up His kingdom. So with that going on, what were the chances that any of them would humble themselves and wash the feet of the other disciples? The bowl of water was there. The towel was there. Everything needed to serve was there. But no one was willing. The text seems clear that they were in the middle of their meal when Jesus rose from the table (v. 5) to show them what it truly means to serve.

Give Up Your Life

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Great In God’s Kingdom

In my last post, we talked about the kind of life that Jesus called great! We picked up on His conversation with the disciples after two of them—James and John—asked if they could sit in seats of power next to Jesus in His kingdom. “Jesus called them over and said to them, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many’” (Mark 10:42–45). In so many words, Jesus was teaching them that if you’re great in God’s kingdom, this world probably won’t even notice you!

Slave or Servant?

Jesus calls you great when you reject the world’s leadership style (v. 42). He also calls you great when your ministry is measured by the people you serve (v. 43). But there are two more points I’d like to draw out from this text related to what Jesus calls great. He also calls you great when you humble yourself and become the world’s slave (v. 44). We touched briefly on this point in our last post. The word is doulos in the original Greek language, and it can only be translated accurately as “slave” in English. So while the Holman version actually translates it “slave,” many translations choose to use the word “servant.” While they can be credited with sensitivity for choosing to translate the word as “servant” because the history of slavery in America is so repulsive and offensive, we probably ought not to change the word Jesus used.

The Humility of a Slave

He meant for us to take on the humility of a “slave” when it comes to our ministry and service. In this way, we actually serve like Jesus did: “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,” the Apostle Paul wrote, “who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead, He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave” (Philippians 2:5–11). In other words, Jesus didn’t use His title—God—as a big stick! In His incarnation, He took the form of a slave!

Suffering For Others

Finally, from Jesus’ words here, we discern that He calls you great when you give up your life to suffer for others (v. 45). Even Jesus suffered for others willingly, all the way to the cross! He served till it hurt—till it killed Him! And you image Jesus when you live your life similarly! That’s probably not going to get you a fancy title or the corner office in a big corporation, but it will get you a “Well done, good and faithful servant” from Jesus! You may have noticed that the focus in this post was not on spiritual gifts. The reason is that the greater emphasis in Scripture is on heart attitude toward ministry rather than giftedness or knowledge. Jesus emphasizes humility over giftedness, and power is never said to be in our gifts but in the Holy Spirit. So, how will you respond to the needs around you?

Prayer That Views God As Sovereign

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Why Do We Ask “Why”?

Whenever we experience something painful, it’s so typical for us to ask “WHY,” isn’t it? Why me? Why do I have to go through this? Hannah’s story, in 1 Samuel, is particularly eye-opening! When she found herself unable to conceive and have children, it would have been normal for her to ask, “Why am I unable to have a baby?” The Scripture addresses that “WHY” question: “…the LORD had KEPT HER from conceiving… because the LORD had KEPT Hannah from conceiving…” (1 Samuel 1:5–6). God takes credit for her inability to conceive! While doctors may have come up with a “medical reason” to explain it, God’s sovereign control was actually behind the human “medical reason.”

Praying In The LORD’S Presence

Hannah responded to her condition by going to the source—“…she continued praying in the LORD’S presence” (v.10, 12). Above all our human problems and conditions is God’s sovereignty! Now, I know that many believers just don’t want to credit God with that much sovereignty. They’d rather say that God “ALLOWED” it; but He’s not really the “CAUSE.” And they believe they’re “protecting” God’s reputation in doing so! But listen: if God is not sovereign over every event and everything else, then you either have to believe that Satan is just as powerful as God— and there really is a “battle” going on between good and evil— and God might not win! Or, you have to believe that man’s “free will” is sovereign and trumps God’s will!

Sovereign and Omnipotent

I believe the Scriptures tell us that God is both sovereign and omnipotent. And in Exodus 4:11, when God said to Moses, “Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh?” He was taking sovereign credit for such things as blindness, deafness, and the inability to speak! In His absolute wisdom, He uses the pain and suffering we endure in this world—for our good and for His glory! It was because Hannah saw her inability to bear children as part of God’s sovereign plan that she prayed with a motivation for God’s glory. She saw her negative circumstance as God’s opportunity to bring Himself glory!

God’s Sovereign Plans For Your Kids

All the years of barrenness helped Hannah realize something that many parents never comprehend—that children aren’t just for parents! They are for the Lord! God has His design for your kids, and they ultimately belong to Him! Are you more into your plans for your kids or His plans? Hannah’s not bargaining with God in her prayer—He doesn’t bargain with anyone! Out of her painful experience, God had changed her. He had used her suffering to prepare her heart to give her child to God, Who gave it! “After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel because she said, ‘I requested him from the Lord,’ though the boy was still young, she took him to the LORD’S house at Shiloh” (vs. 20–24). Hannah saw it as her great privilege to give her son to the Lord for His purpose!
 

A Distinctly Christ-Centered Home (Part II)

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It’s Counter-Intuitive To The Majority Culture

In so many ways, keeping step with Jesus and Scripture is counterintuitive to the majority culture. The culture will often tell a woman to divorce her husband if they don’t share the same values. But the Apostle Peter’s Holy Spirit-inspired words tell us that a husband who is disobedient to the Lord “…may be won over without a message by the way their wives live…” (1 Peter 3:1). She doesn’t need to nag! It’s possible that the Spirit can use her life in such a dramatic way that her husband may be “won over without a message.” She doesn’t need to preach at him!

Internal Adornment & Beauty

Peter builds on that point in the verses that follow: “…when they observe your pure, reverent lives. Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes” (1 Peter 3:2–4). If you’re a wife who’s a follower of Jesus, your life should be marked by internal adornment and beauty. And let’s be clear—Peter is not teaching that women should refrain from makeup and jewelry. What he’s saying is that your life should consist of more than the “paint” and “bling” on the outside. How shallow! “Live pure and reverent lives,” he says.

Have A Beautiful Heart

Focus on making your heart beautiful by yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit. Just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should! Don’t give your husband a piece of your mind that you can’t afford to lose. My girls are familiar with a verse of Scripture that I often quoted to them: “A beautiful woman without discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout” (Proverbs 11:22). Your hope ought to be placed in God’s sovereignty—“…in the past, holy women like Sarah put their hope in God as they submitted…” (1 Peter 3:5–6). Go back and read the Genesis account of Abraham and Sarah’s life. It’s interesting that she was never present when God gave Abraham His instruction, but she submitted to Abraham by putting her hope in God’s sovereign control of the situation. She let God work out the kinks in her husband’s head. She didn’t nag!

Husband: Know Your Wife

Let me finish by drawing your attention to Peter’s words to the Christian husband: “Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature, yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). Your life, as a husband who follows Jesus, will be marked by an understanding of your wife. Now, I know that some of you men reading this are laughing inside—“You really think we can ever understand a woman?” No, I don’t! And this is a subject I have a really hard time preaching on because I personally stink at it so badly. But what it seems Peter is saying, in part, is that “…as you live with your wife, gain an understanding of her…” Study your wife! What causes her tension and frustration? Serve her in those areas. Be a help to her!

Children That Please God

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Scripture Speaks To Children

I find it interesting that in his letter to the Colossian church, Paul speaks directly to children: “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” — Colossians 3:20. In a section of Scripture devoted to family issues, Paul expects children to read and adhere to his admonition. And if obedience to parents pleases the Lord, we can infer from that that God is not pleased with children who disobey their parents. Yes, He still loves them—but He’s not pleased with them!

Disobedience Produces A Hard Life

I used to tell our kids, “Hey, I’ve figured out how to never get in trouble with your parents! If you never disobey them, you’ll never get in trouble with them!” I would often remind them, “The way of the transgressor is hard!” If Paul were writing a letter to your kids today, I think he’d say something like this: “Your life is going to be hard if you insist on disobeying your parents. Why put yourself through that? Disobedience produces a hard life because your parents are always on you—and God is not pleased with you! So, OBEY! Your life will be much easier!” Jesus set the example of obedience—both to His Heavenly Father and to His earthly father.

Attitude Originates In The Heart

Obedience is a matter of the heart. It’s not just about obeying outwardly—your body language can show disrespect even if you did what you were told! Grumbling, rolling your eyes, shrugging your shoulders, stomping off, banging doors, sassing, arguing, justifying your behavior by making excuses, rationalizing with a “Jimmy’s mom doesn’t make him do that…”—all point to a disobedient attitude of the heart. And to delay is the same as disobedience! When Paul wrote on the same topic to the Ephesian church, he told them that honoring your parents will earn a reward of long life. Put the two together—HONOR your parents by OBEYING them!

Fathers Are Significant

Back to his letter to the Colossians—Paul also pointed out that fathers play a significant part in raising children who please God: “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so they won’t become discouraged.” — Colossians 3:21. I don’t believe that Paul is suggesting Mom has no responsibility in raising children; rather, he’s calling out Dad for his headship in the home. He’s to be the family shepherd and leader.

Don’t Crush Your Child’s Spirit

Dad needs to be the leader when it comes to voluntarily loving his wife sacrificially (as we noted in our previous post). And he needs to step up his leadership when it comes to training the children. Don’t exasperate your children, Dad—or you’ll discourage them. You’ll crush their spirit. That’s what it means to discourage them. Don’t make promises you don’t keep. Don’t change your mind without a very good reason. Don’t withhold compliments. Give them credit for the good things they do—for the times they’re obedient. They’ll remember it forever. But they’ll also remember when you fail to compliment them for a job well done. Love them unconditionally, Mom and Dad—and give them room to grow.

Leaders Are Servants

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The Providence Of God

No doubt, some in this world would consider William Borden a fool! Born into one of the wealthiest families in America, he grew up as the heir to a family fortune earned through real estate and the Borden Dairy Company. How many of you remember “Elsie,” the Borden Dairy cow? Raised with the best of everything, Borden’s father rewarded him with a trip around the world after completing high school. And by God’s providence, he found himself on a ship with several missionaries bound for Asia.

On The Subject of Missions

Moved by their zeal to take the Gospel to the lost, he wrote home: “Although I’ve never thought seriously about being a missionary… I think this trip is going to show me things in a new light.” Upon his return from the trip, he enrolled in college at Yale University. Hearing about a student convention in Nashville, he attended and heard missionaries from 26 different countries speak on the subject of missions. One, in particular, captured his interest with an appeal for Muslim evangelism. He returned to Yale with a passion to reach Muslims with the Gospel. After graduating from Yale, he finished seminary with his sights set on ministry to Asia. First, he would do language studies in Egypt. But within weeks of his arrival in Cairo, he contracted meningitis and died! Bill Borden was only 25 years old. He left behind millions of dollars! Some considered him a fool.

No Reserve! No Retreat! No Regrets!

But under his pillow was found a note in his handwriting that read: “NO RESERVE! NO RETREAT! NO REGRETS!” He died fulfilling the Law of Christ—he died serving others! He carried the burden of those lost without Christ! If we were honest, the majority of us would choose the wealth and fame of this world over the toil of ministering in obscurity to a foreign country that might be hostile toward our faith. It takes the special work of the indwelling Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the true riches: “NO RESERVE! NO RETREAT! NO REGRETS!” Bill Borden was infinitely more wealthy after choosing to be a servant to others than he ever would have been had he lived out the American Dream! If he had lived for the riches of this world, he would have left it all behind at death! 

Living For Eternal Wealth

But because Bill Borden lived for eternal riches, obtained through faithful service to God and others, he gained all of heaven’s riches as a joint heir with Jesus! Pretty radical, right? I mean, that would be the opinion shared by most people in this world, wouldn’t it? But is it? To trade away riches that you can’t take with you for eternal riches you can never lose! Jim Elliot, who died a martyr’s death at the hands of the Auca Indians in Ecuador, made a similar statement to Borden’s: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” If that’s radical, then let’s get radical! God, deliver the church from the grip of the American Dream! Deliver us from the idolatry of consumerism and covetousness that it births in the heart, and its unholy spirit that drives us to serve ourselves!
 

The Fading Glory of Creation

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Don’t Accept A Cheap Substitute

When we refuse to give God the glory He alone deserves, we exchange the glory of an immortal Creator for the glory of created things. In other words, we accept cheap substitutes. When we could have gloried in an eternal, immortal, all-powerful Creator, we glory instead in the fading glory of a creation that groans and dies under the weight of sin’s curse. James wrote: “Let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits” (James 1:9-11).

Beauty Queens and Hip Replacements

That means beauty queens grow old and decrepit. It means sports stars age, get hip and knee replacements. If you value anything more than God, you’ve exchanged the “imperishable” for the “perishable.” You’ve traded a diamond for that rotten peach that’s been in the back of your fridge for the last three months! You’ve exchanged gold for a rusty bolt. In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he says that when you dismiss or deny God’s glory, you exchange the truth of God for lies of sexual perversions: “…God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie…” (Romans 1:24-25).

God Is Not The Killjoy In The Sky

Listen, God is not the big “sex killjoy” in the sky! He’s not a prude! He created sex. Contrary to what some people seem to think, sex wasn’t our idea. God created sex, and the reason He restricted sexual activity to a husband and a wife is because He loves us. His way is the best way for us. All sexual activity—outside that which is between a husband and a wife—will always result in painful, negative experiences. Humanity keeps ignoring God’s glory when it comes to sexual conduct, so God delivers them over to sexual impurity, Paul says. Our society is bent on degrading their bodies because they’ve believed all the lies of sexual perversions. There’s a really important principle here!

Living With Regret

You can glory in the lies of sin and get some momentary pleasure out of it, but the pleasure is soon gone, and what remains is regret. Or you can glory in the truth of God and gain happiness and joy that does not fade in this life—a joy that actually carries over into eternity. You can live without regrets now! Give God the glory due His name. Redirect any praise that might come your way to Him. Humble yourself before Him. Admit that you’re not a self-made man or woman. You’re made in the image of God for His glory. If you’re a follower of Jesus, His Spirit indwells you, and He is making you into the image of Christ. Everything you have—yes, everything—comes from Him! Don’t take any credit for your accomplishments; that’s what unbelievers do. Stand with the Apostle Paul: “As for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14). Brag on the cross and Jesus’ work for our salvation!
 

How Has Worship Changed You?

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Seeking After God

People are motivated to seek after God for all kinds of different reasons—some good, some bad, some seeking truth, some seeking personal power, some genuine, and some deceptive. Matthew’s Gospel reveals a “seeking after God” that was deceptive on the part of King Herod. When you think about Christmas, you might think of Herod as the “bad guy” in the story. He was seeking the Christ-child to destroy Him, and he was so committed to killing Jesus that he ordered genocide against all the male children under two years in an attempt to kill Him. His lust for power was insatiable!

Wise Men Worship Him

There was another group who were motivated to seek after God, but—in direct contrast to Herod—they were motivated not by personal gain, but out of a desire to worship Him: “…wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’ …It (the star) led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him” (Matthew 2:1-12). When worship of God is genuine, the heart and life will be changed!

Genuine Worship Looks Like This

Perhaps nothing contrasts that truth more than Herod and the wise men’s story.  Herod feigned worship in his attempt to kill Jesus, but he was a fraud. The worship of the wise men, however, was a heart and life changer because it was genuine. Their worship was intentional— “…we have come to worship Him…” (v.2). Jesus was their sole purpose for coming. They left their homes to search for Him. Their worship also elevated Jesus and lowered self—when “…they saw the child they fell to their knees…” To fall to one’s knees before another was the same as saying, “You have great dignity and I am lowly by comparison.” Their worship was also emotional— “…they were overjoyed beyond measure…” (v.10). If they had a gauge affixed to them to measure emotion, it would have broken!

Their Worship Was Sacrificial

Finally, the text says, “…they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (v.11). They sacrificed gold, which was offered to deities in that day—They honored Him as “Emmanuel”—God With Us! They sacrificed frankincense, which was used by the priests at the altar—Jesus is our great High Priest who offers Himself and intercedes for us! And, they sacrificed myrrh, an oil used primarily for embalming the dead—Jesus died for us! None of that is coincidental! God calls us out to worship Him—to “…offer your bodies as a living sacrifice which is your spiritual worship…” (Romans 12:1). We’re called to worship Him by giving ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice! That’s how worship changes us—we’re not our own (1 Cor. 6:19-20). We give ourselves to Him in genuine worship!