We Three Kings

By Nosheen Zaheer

Karachi, Pakistan

Scripture Reading:

Genesis 22:1-14, Matthew 2:1-12

Christmas is near and we want to give gifts to our loved ones. We want to appreciate them and make them feel that they are special. Finding gifts for our loved ones can be quite difficult and time-consuming, but we still want to find gifts for them because we love them.

Finding time to adore Jesus in a busy world can also seem difficult--especially at the holidays. Adoration or worship is costly.

To test Abraham’s degree of adoration or worship, God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. When Abraham came to the base of the mountain, he told his servants to stay with the donkey while he and his son Isaac went up the mountain to “worship.” Think about what worship meant: the sacrifice of his son. Thankfully, he didn't have to sacrifice him, but the willingness was there. That is real adoration or worship.

That’s what I mean by costly worship--it is being willing to adore God above all others, even those who are most precious to us. We adore Him in good times and in bad. He is always the central force in our lives.  Adoration is “deep love and respect paid to someone we revere, especially as it pertains to a Divine being.” In the Bible, adoration is required of all who profess to know God. Adoration is akin to worship or paying homage.

In Matthew 2, we read of men who traveled from afar to adore the newborn King, Jesus. “We saw his star in the east and have come to worship Him,” these men proclaimed (Matthew 2:2). The Magi wanted to adore and pay homage to Jesus. After Jesus was born, they came to look for Him, probably from an area which is now in Persia (Iraq).

They were certainly men of great learning. The word Magi comes from the Greek word magos (where the English word “magic” comes from). Magos itself comes from the Old Persian word Magupati. This was the title given to priests in a sect of the ancient Persian religions such as Zoroastrianism. Today we'd called them astrologers. Back then astronomy and astrology were part of the same overall studies (and “science”) and went hand in hand with each other. The Magi would have followed the patterns of the stars religiously. They would have also probably been very rich and held in high esteem in their own society and by people who weren't from their country or religion. They had seen something unusual in that star. It was no ordinary star, but a star of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

As you know, at that time the wise men did not have a map to guide them to Bethlehem, but they had something even better.  God gave them a star to guide them.  So the wise men followed the directions God had given them—the star—and it led them right to Jesus.  When they found Him, they gave Him gifts and bowed down and worshipped Him.

But their travel was not easy. The Magi had to follow the star as it directed. It took a long time to reach Jesus, because you can only see a star at night. The journey was long and full of danger, but the deep adoration and honor the Magi wanted to give the King was great. It cost them time and money, but nothing could stop them. Their actions proved that they were indeed wise men!

Questions for Reflection:

1. What are some of the “costs” of adoring our King, Jesus?
2. Are you willing to pay any cost to adore the King?  In what area(s) do you find it difficult to pay the “cost” of adoring Jesus?

Today I will:

Set aside time today to simply adore Jesus. Think of creative ways to show the King of Kings your “deep love and respect.”

About the Author:

Nosheen Zaheer is currently serving in the full-time ministry in Karachi, Pakistan. She was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and studied sociology at the University of the Pubjab. During her master’s degree program, she started studying the Bible, and she got baptized in 2000. She married her husband, Rasheed, in 2007, and they were sent on a mission team to Rawalpindi/Islamabad. God has blessed their family with two wonderful children: Abiah and Elisha.

To hear a special version of "We Three Kings" sung by your sister Amy Kinzer, please click the image below: