Verse of the Day 12/24

Through the Bible - Zephaniah 3 - Haggai 2, Revelation 16

 

Good morning,

Our church will be celebrating five Christmas Eve services (two were actually held yesterday).  Traditionally these services, along with Easter are the most well attended services of the year.  It is fitting, as many of the Christmas hymns and carols encourage us to "worship Christ the newborn King".

 

Today's verse comes from Matthew chapter 2:

Matt 2:1  Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him."  NLT

There is a praise song that has been popular for several years, you may not think of it as a Christmas song, but read the words, sing them out loud or in your heart, they encourage us that "now is the time to worship."

 

Come, Now is the Time to Worship

Come, now is the time to worship
Come now is the time to give your heart
Come just as you are to worship
Come just as you are before your God
Come

One day every tongue will confess
You are God
One day every knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure remains for those
Who gladly choose you now

If you haven't already given your life to Christ, I can't think of a better time to do it.  If you have, come, bring your gifts, bring your praise, celebrate the one who brings joy to the world, peace to our hearts, and hope for the future.

 

The wise men travelled great distances to worship and honor the Christ child.  Will you be willing to get off of the couch and join in fellowship with other believers around the world to celebrate at your church this evening?

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Matt 2:1-13

 

Visitors from the East

 

2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him."

 

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"

 

5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they said, "for this is what the prophet wrote:

 

6 'And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.'"

 

7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!"

 

9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

 

12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.  NLT