When you've heard a story 1,000 times before...

it's hard to think that you'll find anything new.  


This week we were supposed to study a passage for a group discussion on Wednesday.  The passage was on Matthew 2, when the wisemen come to visit Jesus.  After rereading the passage a few times, I was stuck.


"Um, Tray, how are we supposed to talk about this for 2 hours??"  He didn't know either.


I have realized especially over the last few weeks how quick I am to dismiss things that I think I already know.  Which is ironic (not really) because in the same time, God has been showing me again and again how much He wants to teach me as soon as I surrender my pride and admit I actually want to be taught.


Sure enough, as soon as I admitted to God that maybe I don't know everything about this Christmas story and I want to be taught by Him, the real learning began.


Here's what I learned:


When we really encounter Jesus, our innate response is worship.  The wisemen, who studied stars and did not proclaim to know God, had to find the star to come and worship the King (v.2).    


They also reacted with obedience (v.12) by not going back to King Herod after being warned by God in a dream.  Why were they obedient?  Because they had spent time with the living God.  How could they desire to do anything after but be obedient to Him? 


When we spend time with God, when we really encounter Him, our natural response is worship.  We were created for it.  And when we worship Him alone, we are at peace in this crazy world.


It's also the way we get into God's presence.  Gratitude and praise to God always preceded a miracle of Jesus.  Paul and Silas had the gates of jail opened and the chains fall off all the prisoners... after what?  Singing and praising God all night.


We were created to worship.  


So what to take from all of this?


1)  Don't ever think that God can't teach you something from the Christmas story you've heard since you were a child...


2)  Do what you were created to do this Christmas - Rejoice that your Creator, the King of all Kings, wants to know you and came to this earth only to die for you.  Worship Him because He is the only one worthy of it!

May your Christmas be full of His peace!