“When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him” (Matt. 2:1212And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. (Matthew 2:12)).
We have before us the person of Christ and the center God has marked out in His Word where we can meet around Himself. The wise men came to Jerusalem to inquire about His birth, but the religious leaders of that day knew nothing about it. But God in His grace gave those men who came from a far country to see the One born King of the Jews. He was the one who was to bring blessing, not to Israel only, but to the Gentiles also.
We too have been brought from a far country, have we not? We had no claims, no promises, but God in grace wrought in our hearts and gave us to see the blessed person of the Lord Jesus, who is the center of our thoughts the One who is the center of God’s thoughts and the One who is the light and the temple of the coming scene of glory. We were attracted to Him. Surely we delight to come and worship Him now as these wise men from the far country did so long ago.
The wise men came to Jerusalem, where there were those who had the Scriptures; they knew the prophecies, yet they were unconcerned and did not value them as they ought.
Can it be that we, having these same Scriptures in our hands, do not value them as we should? Has each of us become acquainted with God’s holy Word? Has each read it through and through again? There is responsibility as well as privilege connected with being in the place where the Lord is in the midst. All is clearly marked out in the Word if we read it carefully and prayerfully, willing to submit wholly to its precious truths.
The privilege of being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus to remember Him in His death is but for a little while. His coming draws near. May each be led to rise up seeking His face with renewed purpose of heart and diligence, as did the wise men.
G. H. Hayhoe (adapted from an address)