A call to worship Christ the Lord
~ Pastor Thuamminlian Guite
Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
We thank the Lord for leading us this far and blessing us with Christmas day for this year. For many of us it has been a year of blessing, while for some have gone through the loss of a loved one. Still, the Lord has been good to us and we are grateful.
This Christmas, our theme will be “A call to worship, Christ the Lord”. A call to worship given to several personalities in the first Christmas. First, the Magi from the east, who went to Jerusalem and asked for a newborn King. They knew this newborn king is not just the king of the Jews but a king of the world, and so they went to pay him his due honor and worship. They might have come across challenges on their way, but they obeyed their call and followed the signs given to them, which was the star. Secondly, another call to worship was proclaimed to the shepherds at the outskirt of the city, in the middle of the night. An angel appeared to them and told them about the newborn king. They immediately left their flocks, awestruck and earnest to see what they were told, they set out to meet the king and pay him his due honor and praise. They heard the news and made effort to meet Christ the Lord and worship him.
How about you? This Christmas do you really feel Christ is worthy of worship? Have you come here to worship him? Or are you here just for the sake of the day and program? Let us reflect and think what we are here for. The shepherds left their sheep and hurried to meet Christ the Lord, and the Magi from the east travelled miles to see the new king.
While there were some who obeyed the call to worship, there were others who were given the same call and opportunity to meet, see, and welcome Jesus yet they let go of such great opportunity.
A. The innkeeper of Bethlehem
Luke 2:7 “And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
The innkeeper was given the privilege of meeting the new king Jesus by accommodating Mary and Joseph, but he had no room for them. Taking the situation at hand, where the town of Bethlehem was flooded with people all over the kingdom coming to register, the innkeeper must have been busier than ever. So busy was he that he missed out on meeting Christ the Lord. He failed to see an expecting mother at his door asking for a room and missed the opportunity of meeting the Lord Jesus. As we celebrate Christmas, are we so busy that we let go of the opportunity of making room for Jesus. While Jesus was to have his dwelling in us, are we driving him away with our busyness. Let us retrospect and see ourselves that we are not too preoccupied with making a living, running errands, too busy with work like the innkeeper that we failed to let Jesus born in us.
B. King Herod
Matthew 2:3 “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.”
A call to worship, a message was given to King Herod through the Magi from the east who stopped by to inquire about a newborn king. He was disturbed in hearing, “Where is the king of the Jews born? We have seen his star in the east and came to worship Him.” Herod was a provincial governor of the Jewish province under the Roman Empire. He was a ruthless, dominant ruler and his greed for power has led him to the murder of his brother-in-law, his own wife and son. Such is his own insecurity, fear and jealousy that after hearing about a newborn king he later killed all newborn under the age of 2 in Bethlehem. His pride, selfishness, and greed for power barred him from meeting the king of the world.
In our lives, are we a self-made king? Did we play as master of our own lives, and do things the way we want them to? Or did we make Jesus our Lord and ruler of our lives? Are we like Herod with pride and dominance refuse to make Jesus our king? Did our wealth, riches and properties take over kingship in our lives instead of Jesus?
C. The people’s chief priests and teachers of the Law
Matthew 2:4-6 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the Law he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied “for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”
We learned from the scripture that the Leaders and Teachers of the time knew quite well about the birthplace, time and the birth of Christ, yet they did not give any effort to meet the newborn king. As one born into a Christian family, we are quite aware about Jesus since childhood, but have we ever set out to meet and worship Jesus? The people’s chief priest and teachers of the Law knew where, when and how Christ would be born from the Old Testament, but they never set out to meet the Christ. Knowing Jesus does not mean you have him in your life. We may celebrate Christmas knowing full well that Jesus is born to save the world, yet we have not set out to meet him just like the chief priests and teachers of the law. Head knowledge alone without obedience will not save us. You may know Jesus is the savior, forgiver of sins; He is God; he can take us to heaven, he alone can make us sons and daughters of God, yet not have him in your life. Knowledge alone will not save us.
D. The people of Jerusalem
Matthew 2:4 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
The whole of Jerusalem was shocked and disturbed at the news of a new born king. They heard about it, but did not set out to meet the king, not even one. Think about it, the wisemen/Magi from the east came all the way, being guided by a star to worship the Christ and met Jesus. The shepherds also set out to worship in the middle of the night after hearing the news from an angel and met Jesus. However, the innkeeper even though he was told, given a message through the parents, but failed to make room. King Herod was told about a newborn king in Bethlehem but didn’t set out to meet the new king. Chief priests and teachers of the law also knew quite well but didn’t set out so failed to meet Jesus. Similarly, the people of Jerusalem did not set out and so missed out to meet Jesus.
Conclusion
Let us not rely on our knowledge alone, but act on it. If you receive the message and response the call to worship Christ, God is ready to make us his sons and daughters. How many of us will respond to the call and make a step to meet Jesus? Will we give effort to meet Jesus? If we are overtaken by our busy schedule and not have time for God, we will end up being like the innkeeper missing out on God’s call to worship and meeting. If we are filled with pride and selfishness to run our lives at our will, making our livelihood, our riches and wealth as our king, we will be no different from Herod. We may know quite well about the scripture and missed out on receiving eternal life. People of Jerusalem also heard the news but did no set out to meet the king and missed the great opportunity. As we celebrate Christmas today, may I request all brethren and sisters to set aside ourselves and heed to the call to worship in obedience. May God bless His word.
