Is It Still Christmas?!

It probably is in some homes!  Too cold to take down those outside decorations.  Life has been too crazy to get the last of the inside ornaments away.
Maybe the nativity is still in view.....now that wouldn't be such a bad thing...would it?
To have the nativity out all year to remind us that what we celebrate at Christmas is actually something we need to remember ALL year long!

 As I look at the wise men depicted in the nativities that we see, I began to ponder their "story", their journey.  They are included in the scene that we all are familiar with....though I know some people wait and add them at Epiphany.  Their journey actually STARTED with the appearance of the star, "His star"...which was at Christ's birth.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2 (HCSB)

It isn't known the exact time that they arrived in Bethlehem, but according to scripture,
And there it was—the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure.  Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother,... Matthew 2:9-11(HCSB)

Jesus was considered a child instead of a baby and they entered a house, instead of going up to a manger.
So, from this we can know that their journey took a long time.  There have been studies and research and with the assumption that they came from Persia their journey was probably 800 or 900 miles. (citation)

What struck me is that it was a long, more than likely, arduous journey that had it's dangers too; as we know they were rerouted by God so as not to cross paths with King Herod again.
 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route. Matthew 2:12 (HCSB)

What I take away from their story:

• They did not stop and decide to go back home, knowing that they missed what might have been considered the BIG event! It was about WHO was born not WHEN it happened.
• They continued on because they obviously knew the importance of worshiping this new King.
• They also seemed to trust and rely on God for their travel and their safety.
• They obviously believed the prophecy that foretold the coming of a Messiah.
• They believed He was worthy of their worship, worthy enough for gifts.
• Their gifts had significance in who they believed this Messiah was.

"Gold: A gift for a king.
Frankincense: This is obviously an incense, the burning of which represents prayer. It is used by priests, and indicates the priestly nature of the Messiah.
Myrrh: A fragrant perfume, used in embalming bodies. The inclusion of this gift can be seen as prophetic of the death of the Messiah. The three gifts together also underline the Messiah’s offices as prophet, priest and king."   Creation Today

There was worship in their travel, worship in their seeking, worship in their giving.
That is what makes every day still Christmas....every day we must celebrate the Messiah who came to save us all!
I pray for each of us....that every day we are seeking the Messiah, seeking to worship Him and striving to give Him our best!

Sorry this was later today!  See you next Monday for Coffee Time!