Today’s 333 Devotional: “A Journey To Worship”

When the Magi arrived at Jerusalem they said, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)

The Magi’s journey was to worship, and as an act of worship they brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

But there was more to their worship than these gifts, because worship always involves sacrifice.

Before they could give their gifts, they had to give of themselves. The Magi gave themselves to this journey. Travel in those days was neither comfortable nor safe; rather it was miserable and dangerous. These Magi sacrificed their own comfort and safety to find and worship the Messiah.

The Apostle Paul said, “I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

To truly worship the Lord requires more than a mere sacrifice of possessions or what we give to God as our tithe. The greatest gift, the greatest sacrifice is to give God ourselves.

Notice that they first gave of themselves before they gave their gifts.

King David said, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24)

When a plague broke out in Israel, David was offered the threshing floor, where he had seen the angel of destruction, along with the sacrifice to give to God. But David knew the responsibility was his and he would not offer to God a sacrifice that cost him nothing.

We likewise need to take this journey of worship and bring to the Lord Jesus the gift of ourselves as well as an offering, not only of our possessions, but also of praise.

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)