First Thing First

First Thing First

Teaching. Giving. Serving. Leading. Cooking. Cleaning. Visiting.

So many ways we can give of ourselves and our time to honor our Lord.

We plan, prepare, and work to bring about many opportunities to serve the Lord by serving others. So much goes into our corporate worship time, Bible study classes, fellowship times and events prepared with our community in mind.

But, first thing first.

Worship.

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them,
till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother,
and fell down and worshiped Him.
And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh”
Matthew 2:9-11.

These men had been traveling for a very long time with a very heavy load of equipment and valuables in search of the New Born King. Jesus may have been close to two years old before the wise men found Him at the house with His mother. After such a long and hard journey, the wise men “rejoiced with exceedingly great joy” when they saw the star.

And what was the first thing they did when they saw Jesus?

These men “fell down and worshiped Him.”

The wise men had been following this star for possibly close to 3 years, and finally! It led them to the house. When they saw Jesus, their “exceedingly great joy” could no longer be contained as the men fell down and worshiped the Child.

Then, they opened up their treasures and gave Him gifts.

First – worship. Then – gifts.

I wonder how our corporate worship might look if we lived each day focused on worshiping God.

Seeking His face.

Talking with Him.

Taking in His Word.

Following His leading.

Looking for where He is working.

Discerning the council of others.

Then, when we gather on Sunday, would we be so filled with “exceedingly great joy” because we spent every day with Jesus, that we would pour out worship for the King of Kings?

Let’s do it!

This week, each day, will you:

Spend time in God’s Word?

Spend time communicating with God in prayer?

Spend time joining God in His work?

Spend time privately worshiping Him?

Spend time serving others in Jesus’ name?

Spending time using the gifts He has given us to serve His Kingdom growth?

Then, let’s see what happens Sunday as we all join together, overflowing with our love and worship for our Great God.  

True worship is the overflow of a heart filled with God.