It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – a commercial Christmas. These days it seems like department stores are stringing lights and decorating with red and green while it’s still swimsuit season. My Sunday paper lands in the driveway and the house shakes. It comes laden with so many advertisements the papercarrier needs a cannon to deliver it. Black Friday has given way to Cyber Monday. The Internet makes shopping a 24/7 enterprise.
Is there anything wrong with buying and selling gifts? Of course not! Christians ought to be the most generous people on the planet. But when getting stuff becomes an obsession, or when I get a bad case of the “gimmies,” I might be missing the real reason for the season. Perhaps it is time to adopt the Magi Mindset.
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him.” When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-2,10-11 NLT)
The men from the East spent a great deal of money, but it wasn’t to get something. It was to see someone! They had one mission at Christmas, to find and worship the Christ. The Magi Mindset is simply this: slow down, bow down, and worship!
There is a reason we call these mysterious travelers "Wise Men." Why not follow their example today? Slow your pace, drop to your knees, and worship Christ. Give him a gift of thanks and a fresh surrender of your heart!