Matthew 2:2 ‘“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 2:11: “And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.“
In reference to these wise men from the east, there was for their search after Christ “a declared motive.”
“Where is He,” they said, “We have come to worship him!”
Oh, dear soul, if you seek for Christ, let it be your motive that you will be saved by Him, and that henceforth and forever you may live to His glory.
When it comes to this, that you don’t listen to the gospel merely as a habit, but because you long to receive its promised salvation, it will not be long before you will find it.
When a man says, I am going to church today to hear the Word of God preached, and my heart’s desire is that God will grant me His salvation,” then he will not go there in vain. When a hearer can declare, “As soon as I take my seat in the congregation, my one thought is, “Lord, bless my soul this day?” he won’t be disappointed.
Usually in going to church we get what we came for. Some come because it is a habit, some to meet a friend, some don’t even know why; but when you know what you come for, the Lord who gave you the desire will gratify it.
I was pleased with the word of a dear sister this morning when I came in the church; she said to me, “My dear sir, my soul is very hungry this morning. May the Lord give you bread for me.”
I believe that food is being given to her. When a sinner is very hungry for Christ, Christ is very near to him.
The worst of it is, many of you don’t come to find Jesus, it is not Him you are seeking for; if you were seeking for Him, He would soon appear to you.
A young woman was asked during a revival, “How is it that you have not found Christ?” “Sir,” she said, “I think it is because I have not been looking for Him.” It is true.
None will be able to say in the end, if I haven’t found Jesus, it must be because He has not been devoutly, earnestly, relentlessly sought, for His promise is, “Seek, and you will find.”
These wise men are to us a model in many things–their motive was clear to them, and they frankly acknowledged it to others. May all of us seek Jesus that we may worship Him.
Continuously there was an intense earnestness displayed by the wise men, which we would delight to see in any who as yet have not believed in Jesus.
Evidently they were not just curiosity seekers. They came a long way, they suffered a lot of fatigue, they spoke about finding the newborn King in a practical, common sense way; they were not put off with this rebuff or that; they desired to find Him, and they would find Him.
It is most blessed to see the work of the Spirit in men’s heart motivating them to long for the Savior to be their Lord and King; and to so long for Him that they will not accept defeat, thus they will leave no stone unturned, but by the Holy Spirit’s help, they will be able to eventually say, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote–Jesus, and He has become our salvation.”
After worshipping, the wise men presented “their gifts.”
One opened his box of gold, and laid it at the feet of the newborn King. Another presented frankincense–one of the precious products of the country from which they came; and another laid myrrh at the Redeemer’s feet; all these they gave to prove the truth of their worship.
They gave substantial offerings. And now, after you have worshipped Christ in your soul, and seen Him with the eye of faith, give Him yourself, give Him your heart, give Him all that you are and own.
Why, you will not be able to keep from doing it. He who really loves the Savior in his heart, cannot help devoting to Him his life, his strength, his all.
With some people, when they give Christ anything, or do anything for Him, it is very difficult and somewhat forced.
They say, “The love of Christ ought to compel us.” I don’t know of any such text as that in the Bible, however, I do remember one text that says, “Christ’s love compels us.”
If it does not compel us, it is because it is not in us. It is not merely a thing which ought to be, it must be. If any man loves Christ, he will soon be finding ways and means of proving his love by his sacrifices.
Go home, Mary, and get the alabaster box, and poor the ointment on His head, and if any say, “Why this waste?” you will have a good answer, you have had many sins forgiven by Him, and therefore you love Him greatly.
If you have gold, then give it; if you have frankincense, then give it; if you have myrrh, then give it to Jesus; if you don’t have any of these things, give Him your love, all of your love, and that will be gold and spices all in one; give Him your tongue, speak of Him; give Him your hands, work for Him; give Him your whole self. I know you will, for He loved you, and gave Himself for you.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
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God Bless You
Have a Merry Christmas! ❣️