.
Speak It
Forth!
.
Pastor Howie
Stewart, Oklahoma
.
To Be Where
Jesus Is
We all know the account of how the wise men brought their
gifts to Jesus. We often picture three
of them, but in actuality we don’t know how many there really were. “We have seen His star in the east and have
come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2) To be sure, they brought the gifts. But more importantly they came to worship the
Lord.
The wise men, at great personal risk, subjected themselves
to a lengthy and arduous journey, and endured much difficulty to have the opportunity
of worshipping the King of Kings.
Application: Are you
willing to endure great sacrifice and hardship to be where Jesus is? Or must you be spoon-fed and coaxed to enter
His presence? “Oh, I can’t make it to
church this morning—it’s a bit too cold (or cloudy…or rainy…or hot…or
windy).” Or “My toenail (or bursitis…or
tinnitus…or indigestion…or leg cramp…or toe cramp…or elbow cramp) is bothering
me.”
Think of it: To be
where Jesus is. Sometimes His presence
is not readily felt. Sometimes we have
to press in. Sometimes we have to
overcome difficulty and adversity and distraction—push them aside—and strive to
enter His presence.
Is being where He is worth the effort? The wise men thought so. They traveled hundreds of miles, endured
adverse weather conditions and threat of bodily harm, and we don’t detect any
unwillingness or complaint.
So the next time you feel a need to be where He is, press
in past the hindrances, and worship Him, for He is worthy. Then open the treasures of your heart and
give Him the sacrifice of praise that He deserves.
