When Jesus was born, wise men from the East sought him in Jerusalem to worship. King Herod heard this and became troubled. He assembled his chief priest and scribes to inquire from them also. In Bethlehem of Judea as the prophets had told, they replied. Secretly, King Herod also assembled his wise men to know when Jesus’ star appeared. In deceit and fear of royal rivalry of Jesus as King of the Jews, Herod told the wise men from the East, go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him, Matthew 2: 8.
The wise men did not return so in Matthew 2: 16, Herod so enraged with fury that he had been tricked by the wise men, ordered and killed all male children in Bethlehem and in the region who are two years old or under reckoning from the time he ascertained Jesus’ birth from the wise men. Although Herod’s statement in Matthew 2: 8 looked good by the letter, the spirit behind it was however evil. We must remember that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, 2 Corinthians 11:14. We must not trust all that people say because we do not know their intentions. Paul also admonishes us that we should test all spirits, 1 Corinthians 12:10. What must be truthful in our hearts before we confess with our lips.
What is worship?
To worship is to show obeisance or loyalty to a superior usually from a servant to a master. Herod’s promise was that Jesus was superior to him and therefore he desired to perform his duty as a servant to Jesus as his king. When Herod referred to worshipping Jesus also, he meant to express reverence and adoration for God through Jesus Christ whom God has appointed the heir of all things. Through Christ Jesus God created the world, Hebrews 1: 2. True worship is a show of regard for God with great respect, honour or devotion. Worship means giving one’s entire self, thoughts, emotions and strength to God in total submission. A true desire to worship must come from a voluntary and clean heart.
Matthew 15: 8-9; Mark 7: 6-7 say this people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. Herod’s intention was not to worship Jesus but to know where Jesus had been born so he could kill him as a rival based on his limited knowledge of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we must evaluate what people say in the light of scripture, divine wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we are influenced by thoughts of rivalry, we deny God’s presence with us and what he is capable of.
Herod’s promise to worship Jesus also meant he desired to acknowledge God; to show him reverence; to absolutely depend on him; and to accept Jesus as superior to him. His promise was rather meant to be mere words. However, worship is a life of holiness in strict obedience, truth and honesty to God. What is the nature of our worship, lip service or confessions of the heart? God is spirit and he that worships him must do so in spirit and in truth, John 4:24.
Why do we worship God?
We worship God because it is a religious requirement for true believers. Exodus 34: 14 says for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. We worship only one God and through his Son Jesus Christ. It is a spiritual command and obedience that demonstrates faith in God. Psalms 96: 9 says worship the Lord in holy array; tremble before him, all the earth! Psalms 99: 9 says Extol the Lord our God; and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy! Isaiah 66: 23 says from new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, says the Lord. True worship is a life to be led daily.
In worship we also acknowledge God’s presence with us as part of our spiritual culture. We are sometimes accused of worshipping wrongfully. In Acts 18: 13 Paul was also accused of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law. Paul pronounced heathen worship as worship to an unknown God, Acts 17: 23. He shared what was true worship with them having provoked their ignorance, Acts 17: 30. How often do we share with others the true God and how to worship him?
Worshipping God goes with service to God. Revelation 22: 11 says let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy. Behold I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to pay every one for what he has done. Our true nature reflects the content of our worship. We must worship and confess in truth to the glory and honour of Jesus Christ, the blessed living Lamb of God.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, our worship is not of the heart but the lip. We have in the past worshipped you in vain, not in spirit and in truth. By this confession, forgive us of our shortcomings. Teach and lead us in true worship by your Holy Spirit. Let our character reflect our true worship. In your blessed holy name we have prayed, hear us O Lord, Amen!!
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