OUR HIGHEST TRIBUTE
They bowed down and worshiped Him. And opening their treasures, they presented gifts to Him. (Matt. 2:11).
When wise scholars from the east perceived that the King of the Jews had been born, their first instinct was to worship Him with their best. Ever since that glorious first Advent, wise men and women have found their way to Jesus and they continue to worship Him with all their hearts, laying their best before Him.
The Apostle Paul said the offering he wanted to bring Jesus was to lay redeemed nations at His feet. He wrote, “I am a special messenger to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit” (Ro. 15:16, NLT). Paul wanted to bring the highest tribute possible to Christ – entire nations made righteous by His sacrifice.
As I think of the lavish gifts of the wise men, and Paul’s missionary gift of entire nations to Christ, I also remember the prophetic words of hymn-writer, Isaac Watts. Foreseeing the coming global reign of Jesus Christ, he wrote:
Behold the islands with their kings,
And Europe her best tribute brings;
From north to south the princes meet,
To pay their homage at His feet.
There Persia, glorious to behold,
There India shines in eastern gold;
And barb’rous nations at His word
Submit and bow and own their Lord.
Tags: Christmas