The Wise Seek Jesus

After the celebrations fade and decorations come down, the focus rightly shifts from an ending to a beginning. The birth of Jesus opens a new chapter: God has come near to rescue and reign. Matthew 2:1–11 shows unexpected worshipers—Magi from the East—rising to seek and honor the true King. Their arrival wasn’t at the manger but later at a house, and they weren’t kings; they were learned seekers who let a prophecy and a star reorder their lives. Their journey exposes a crucial difference between gathering information and surrendering to truth: wisdom is knowledge applied in obedience.

Their questions are still the right ones: “Where is He?” That pursuit is not a one-time moment but a daily resolve. Real discipleship means denying self and taking up the cross each day, letting Jesus be not only Savior but Lord. That choice requires intention, because drift is always away from God, not toward Him. These travelers also model the manner of approach: they bowed. Intimacy with God never cancels reverence for God. He is near as Father and Friend, yet worthy as King of Kings.

They worshiped—and worship is more than singing. It’s setting mind’s attention and heart’s affection on God, offering every ordinary moment as a sacrifice of praise. Hearing Scripture, praying, fellowshipping, obeying—these all belong to true worship. Then come the gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh—costly and peculiar—but fitting. They recognize Jesus’ royal authority and priestly ministry, pointing to atonement secured by His own blood. Their generosity asks searching questions of our priorities: do we bring Christ our first and best, or our leftovers?

The new year invites recalibration. Failure is real, but it isn’t final. Repentance is God’s gracious “recalculating”: turn, and He sets the path again. Each person is at a different point in the journey, and the church walks it together—bearing one another in love, pursuing holiness with humility. The privilege remains staggering: in this moment and this place, ordinary people can be part of what the risen King is doing. Wise people still seek Him—and when they find Him, they worship and give Him their best.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Let truth move your feet Knowledge without obedience hardens the heart. The Magi didn’t just study a star; they stood up, set out, and kept going. Wisdom is knowledge rightly applied, where Scripture moves from head to heart to hands. If truth isn’t changing our steps, it isn’t yet wisdom. [50:36]
• 2. Seek Jesus intentionally every day Following Jesus is not a memory; it’s a daily “yes.” Calling Him Lord means relinquishing the right to say “no,” denying self and taking up the cross again today. Drift is natural; discipleship is deliberate. Pursuit requires fresh surrender each morning. [56:49]
• 3. Approach the King with reverence God’s nearness doesn’t negate His holiness. Bowing embodies the right posture—making ourselves less so He is honored as more. Keep intimacy without casualness; He is not a mascot for our plans but the Lord who commands our worship. [57:50]
• 4. Worship is a whole-life posture Singing is worship, but so are Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and Monday obedience. Worship is mind’s attention and heart’s affection set on God in all things. Our purpose is to glorify Him—every task, conversation, and decision can become an altar. [61:00]
• 5. Bring your best, not leftovers The Magi’s costly gifts expose our priorities. God calls for firstfruits—time, talent, and treasure offered before lesser loves claim them. The greatest gift is yourself: wholehearted availability that says, “All I am is Yours.” [66:06]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [29:07] - Children’s moment: Magi and gifts
• [33:26] - Seek and serve Jesus
• [35:20] - After-Christmas letdown and hope
• [38:12] - Christmas as a beginning
• [40:15] - Scripture reading: Matthew 2:1–11
• [43:58] - Clearing up Magi myths
• [49:31] - Faith that moves your feet
• [52:50] - Followers of the truth
• [56:49] - Seeking Jesus daily
• [57:50] - Reverence before the King
• [61:00] - Worship beyond Sunday
• [66:06] - Bring your best to Jesus
• [69:57] - Repentance and new direction
• [74:14] - Response and closing prayer

Bible reading

- Matthew 2:1–11

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 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 search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Observation questions

1. In Matthew 2, where did the travelers find Jesus, and what does the setting (house vs. manger) suggest about the timing of their arrival? [44:31]
2. What key question did the travelers ask in Jerusalem, and what does that reveal about their aim in coming (v. 2)?
3. What did they do when they saw the child, and what did they offer? (Note the sequence: they bowed, worshiped, then opened their treasures.) [41:56]
4. Which common assumptions were corrected about these visitors (for example: number of visitors, whether they were kings, whether they were at the manger)? [45:36]

Interpretation questions

1. What does their move from studying a sign to taking a long, costly journey teach about true wisdom as knowledge applied in obedience? [50:36]
2. What does it mean, in practice, to keep asking “Where is He?” each day—how might denying self and taking up the cross daily reshape ordinary routines? [56:02]
3. How can closeness with God coexist with reverence? What might “bowing” look like in modern life so that intimacy does not slide into casualness? [57:50]
4. What do the gifts (gold, frankincense, myrrh) communicate about Jesus as King and High Priest who secures atonement, and how should that shape the way worship is offered? [01:04:40]

Application questions

1. Let truth move your feet: Identify one specific truth God has shown you recently that hasn’t yet changed your steps. What concrete action will you take this week to obey it? [50:36]
2. Seek Jesus intentionally every day: What is one small, doable practice you can add to your morning or commute to say “yes” to Jesus today? What self-denial will that require? [56:49]
3. Approach the King with reverence: Where have you grown casual with God? What simple posture or habit (kneeling, silence, bowing your head, turning off notifications) could help you approach Him with reverence this week? [57:50]
4. Whole-life worship: Choose one ordinary task you’ll do tomorrow (emailing, washing dishes, driving). How will you set your mind’s attention and heart’s affection on God while you do it? [01:01:00]
5. Bring your best, not leftovers: Looking at your calendar and budget, where are your “firstfruits” going right now? What change would move your best time and best treasure toward Jesus first? [01:07:22]
6. Offer yourself: Beyond money, what talent, margin, or availability can you offer as a “treasure” to serve Christ’s body this month? Name one step and when you’ll take it. [01:08:14]
7. Repentance is “recalculating”: Where have you drifted this past year? What is one repentance U-turn you will make this week, and who will you tell for support so you stay on the new path? [01:09:57]