Message summary: Are we true worshipers, the kind of worshiper the Father seeks? That’s my heart’s desire today, and I trust that it is yours as well!

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“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him’” (Matthew 2:7,8). “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers” (John 4:23).

During this season our focus should be on Jesus Christ. Of course that's always the case. But at this season there's so much else that clamors for our attention and where we place worth. Yesterday I was especially moved by this line in a newer song we sang in our church service, "He Was Born To Conquer The Grave". (I plan to write a message about this tomorrow)

The birth of Christ prompted sincere worship among some but not all. Today let is consider Herod's feigned desire to worship.

In politics, regardless of the politician’s political ideology, politicians may seek to win over religious or value voters. Attempts are made by many to use the name of Jesus to gain voters (when the group of potential voters serves his or her own political interest.)

When catering to a specific voting constituency political candidates often jostle to use Jesus, a sort of "getting my picture taken with Him" approach attempting to convey that "I too worship Him". Although only God knows their real heart and motive, many of them hardly pass the vital "you shall know them by their fruit" test!

Herod was the first to have a political interest in claiming to worship Jesus. He feigned interest as he sought the advice from the Magi to find out where the infant Jesus was. His insincere explanation for needing their advice was expressed "so that I too may go and worship Him".  However the text goes on to reveal that Herod’s real motive was jealousy and a threat to his reign. The real intent of his search was to find Jesus and kill Him as He was seen as a competitor to his reign. He certainly had no plan to worship the newborn King.

The Magi (wise men) however appeared to have the purest of motives in their quest. They had responded to the star seen from the east (some authorities feel as far away as present Iran) and began a long, arduous journey to seek out the Child. When they had worshiped Him and given of their gifts they were instructed in a dream to take another way back, rather than reporting to Herod.

They, along with the shepherds, Anna, and Simeon, are the very first true worshipers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Later, during His ministry, Jesus spoke of “true worshipers” as those who worship God in "spirit and in truth" and taught his hearers, "for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers".

What about you and me? Is our worship feigned, that is insincere or pretend? Is our motive for worshiping Christ what we might get out of it?

Or are we true worshipers, the kind of worshiper the Father seeks? That’s my heart’s desire today, and I trust that it is yours as well!

B e encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13