Psalm 95:6 "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!"

Today is the 2nd Sunday of Advent.  If we were at home this morning, we would be heading to church, Balgonie Baptist, to worship with our church family.  Our normal routine is now delightfully interrupted by our winter vacation adventures!  So how will we spend this Sunday away from home?

This reminds me of the journey of the three kings or wisemen from the east who were far from home.  Unlike our travels, they were not seeking rest and recreation, a break from their regular life.  These rich and influential men left their home in search of something very meaningful.  They used their resources to follow a star to find a king of an insignificant middle eastern country.  That seems crazier than our journey into the mountains of western Canada in December!

So they traveled to Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel, where it would seem logical to find the king of the Jews.  Except when they arrived, the current reigning king, Herod - in place by order of the Roman government who occupied Israel - was troubled by their search.  A baby born King of the Jews?  Herod did some research and learned that this "Christ" or king or Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (as predicted in Micah 5:2).  So off these wisemen trooped to Bethlehem, about five miles away from Jerusalem.  King Herod asked them to return and tell him where this newborn baby could be found "that I too may come and worship and him."  (Matthew 1:8b)

You see, this was the purpose the wisemen had for traveling so far - to worship!  And as recorded in Matthew's Gospel, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him..." (Matthew 1:10-11)

For these dignified and wealthy men to fall down, to kneel, to worship a baby would have been a radical and undignified act.  True worship doesn't mind the humbling and potentially shaming act of kneeling, of bowing.  Their act of worship was the greatest offering, more valuable than the gifts of gold, frankincense and myhrr!

Advent is about that search for the King. We will pause today and join our church family's worship on Zoom.  Our hearts long to worship our Saviour.

Will you come and bow down and worship Him today?