Jesus Prompted Joy and Worship (Thursday, Week 3 of Advent 2011)

What Did Jesus Do?

Behold, the star went before them to the place where the child was.
When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
Matthew 2:9-10

Travelers approaching the border of North and South Carolina on Interstate 95 follow garishly colored South of the Border billboards for seemingly hundreds of miles, whether we like it or not. I suppose the signs build up no little anticipation and excitement in those of us who actually want to stop off at Fort Pedro to pick up some fireworks. After all those miles, and all those ridiculous billboards, there is joy, or, at the very least, relief, to at last see the sign saying “South of the Border—NEXT Exit!” The overall effect of the countless signs is to jump-start the whole South of the Border experience even before we arrive. For the wise Men who followed a star to Jerusalem, there were no billboards telling them “Only 50 miles to go!” But the celestial sign which directed them to where Jesus, he who was born King of the Jews, was to be found, contributed to the build-up of their joy and worship even before they actually arrived at Bethlehem and saw the Christ Child.

Advent, the time of anticipation and preparation before Christmas, can and should prompt our joy and worship. Four weeks of Advent devotions point us in the direction of Bethlehem. The lighting of Advent Candles symbolically provides increasing light along our way to the manger. Worship each Lord’s Day during Advent reminds us that Jesus, and not Early-bird or Midnight Madness Sales, is the reason for the season, helping us to keep Christ in our Christmas. And the example of the Wise Men themselves, of giving gifts, impels us to seek opportunities to give more at this time of year, even as we rejoice with more and more exceedingly great joy as we get closer to Christmas. But there would be no devotions, no candles, certainly no worship for the Lord’s Day, and probably little giving now or ever, without Jesus to prompt it all.

Many of us do a lot of running around during the days and weeks leading up to Christmas. It can be difficult to determine to what good end all the rushing about lead us. Quite a few people wind up depressed and disappointed, rather than filled with joy, when Christmas finally arrives, and this is truly a shame. I believe the example of the Wise Men, who followed the star, who kept going mile after difficult and dusty mile, can help all of us, who can be easily distracted or discouraged along the way, to keep going, to follow in the direction the many Advent disciplines, practices, and traditions point us, to Jesus, who, now and forever, prompts joy and worship.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4