Good gifts are always nice, and special time with family and friends can be a delight as well. However, there is something that is far more important than gifts and celebrations.

Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.
(Matt. 2.2)

It’s that time of year for lights, garland, shiny ornaments, tinsel, and jingle bells to be everywhere. With all the excitement in the air, you are probably looking forward to receiving some gifts too!

Good gifts are always nice, and special time with family and friends can be a delight as well. However, there is something that is far more important than gifts and celebrations.

A group of people many years ago found out the secret for true happiness and fulfillment—not just at Christmas-time, but for every day of the year. It changed their life forever, and it can change ours as well.

Let us visualize the story. A brilliant spark of Light flashed through the night sky. The shepherds who were living out in the fields, keeping watch over there flocks, became greatly afraid at the spectacle before them. An angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of God completely surrounded them.

Then the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for the news that I bring to you is good news which will bring joy to everyone. For today in the City of David there has been born to you a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord…” (Luke 2.8-11). At the sound of the angel’s words, the entire angelic choir of heaven burst into praises, singing: “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

After the angels had disappeared, the first thought that entered the shepherds’ minds was to go to Bethlehem and find the Saviour which had been born. Arriving at the manger, they found everything to be just as the angel had said. Christ, the Saviour of the world, had come!  The shepherds quickly spread the word about the Child Jesus and many came and worshipped Him. When they left, they kept praising God for what He had done.

After Jesus was born, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, inquiring: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matt. 2.1-2.) The wise men were directed to Bethlehem, and as they went their way, the star which they had seen in the East went before them until it stood over where the young Child was. When they had come into the house and saw the Child Jesus, they fell down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

What is it that the shepherds, the wise men, and the angels all have in common? What is the secret for true happiness and fulfillment which they discovered? The shepherds, the wise men, and the angels all came to the Child Jesus for one reason—they came to worship him.

Worshipping at the feet of Jesus changed their lives forever, because in worship they discovered that Jesus was not only the Saviour of the world, but the Saviour of their life and the only One who could make them truly happy and fulfilled.

During this Christmas season, and also every day of our life, have we come to worship Him? We need to ask our self the question: “Have I come to worship Him? Have I come to my church, to my prayer time, to my Bible study to really worship Him or is my mind somewhere else?”

If worshipping Him is not our top priority, then we need to make some changes. The wise men, the shepherds, and the angels all had a lot of things to do too. But they chose what was most important and came to worship Jesus.

Let us also come to worship him—today and for eternity.