Sermon Tone Analysis
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As we are celebrating the Christmas season, we want to look at an event that took place that is commonly associated with the Christmas story: the visit of the Wise Men (Magi).
The truth is that this event took place a year or two after the birth of Christ, but it is still one that holds a special place in this season.
We find the account in .
We see that there were some Wise Men who came from the East to Jerusalem to see this wonder that had taken place.
We see from that they had seen a new star which represented a newborn king in their culture.
After inquiring with King Herod about where it might be, they made their way to Bethlehem to see this newborn King.
The star is a special symbol of the Christmas season.
It is a symbol that shows that God had done something great.
God is still in the business of doing great things.
Today, we are going to look at three responses the Wise Men had to seeing God’s work.
3 Responses to Seeing God’s Work
They were filled with joy.
Matthew 2:
These Wise Men were overwhelmed with joy at the sight of what God was doing.
They realized that they had the opportunity of a lifetime to see something that not everyone gets to see.
What fills our heart when we see God doing great things in our midst… excitement?
curiosity?
maybe skepticism or even resentment?
We should be overjoyed in our hearts when God moves in mighty ways.
It may not be something that we completely understand or experience firsthand, but God’s works are always good and right.
They worshipped Jesus.
The Wise Men were moved to worship at the sight of the Christ child.
These distinguished men from the East fell to their knees in worship in the presence of Jesus.
Worship is a correct response to seeing God at work.
When we see God at work, it should remind us that God never works from afar but in close proximity.
If we see God at work, then we know that we are in His presence.
He is due our heart’s devotion.
We see that the Wise Men came bringing gifts for the Christ.
Worship is not just a matter of singing songs… as the choir just sang about, it is about bringing an offering to the Lord.
What are we bringing to God as an offering?
It is not that He is need of anything because everything belongs to Him.
It is about Him receiving our heart’s devotion.
When we see God at work, we should worship Him for He is worthy and showing that He has not abandoned us!
They Went A Different Way
A final response we see from the Wise Men is that they chose a different path from that moment.
We are not told as to whether they went on to become believers and followers of Jesus, but they knew that they couldn’t go back the way they had come.
King Herod was looking to bring harm to the Christ child, and they wanted no part of it.
When we see God at work, it is an invitation for us to choose a different path.
We cannot experience God in a real way and stay the same.
Either we will draw closer to Him, or our hearts will be hardened all the more.
One of the greatest truths about Christmas is that it is God coming to man with the opportunity to change course.
Because of sin in each of our lives, we are all naturally heading towards destruction.
Because of God’s amazing grace in the coming of Jesus, we can now choose a different path that leads to life with God.
Conclusion
Christmas is truly a great time of the year.
Because of the work of God in coming to sinful man and making a new way, we can have joy… we can worship God wholly… we can choose a different way.
Have you seen God at work?
It could be a mighty big ways or seemingly small ways, but the truth is that God is still at work.
When we see that work, we have a decision to make: will it move us closer to Him or harden us?
I pray that you might see God at work this Christmas season and respond in the appropriate manner.
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