At a recent Christmas gathering (the second of the day for me) the conversation around the food table had us comparing our respective social calendars.

There is no doubt this is a busy time of year full of parties, events, cooking, baking, cleaning, shopping, wrapping. It’s busy. Then, to add on top of all that many of us travel to visit family.

“We’re heading to Leamington on Christmas Eve. It’ll be a long drive for this little one,” a friend said, as she gave her adorable daughter a piece of cheese.

“Where’s Leamington?” I asked because everything I know about Leamington has to do with ketchup.

“It’s four hours away. It’s the southernmost part of Canada, at the tip” she said, as she outlined a map of Ontario in the air. She paused for a moment and then said brightly, “Yup, it’ll be fine.”

I imagine in that split second she was wondering how her young child would fare on the trip. Or perhaps, as moms tend to do, she was thinking of all she would need to pack for the long journey with a toddler.

Over the past few weeks we’ve been talking about the long, arduous journey of the Wise Men and the simple purpose of their trip.

“We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)

I wonder how the Wise Men packed? What does one pack to find the One born King of the Jews?

There is much we don’t know about the Wise Men. We are not clear on how many there were, or even when they arrived. We don’t know for certain if they were pagans or scientists.

What we do know is that these Wise Men recognized God’s voice when God spoke.

We know that they immediately recognized God’s light when it shone on them.

We know that they had genuinely seeking hearts, that found the Christ child.

And we know that they packed at least three things: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gifts fit for a King!

Their purpose was simple. They came to worship the Messiah.

The word worship is full of meaning, expressing the idea of bowing down, even falling down, and kissing the feet or the hem of the garment of the one honoured. That alone shows that these Wise Men were true seekers after God, because when God spoke to them, in whatever way it was, they heard and responded.

I love what the Lord promises in Jeremiah 29:13. It says:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

As we go about our busy schedules this Christmas season; as we plan to pack our cars for the journey to visit family, take a moment to reflect on the journey of the Wise Men travelling from afar. Their purpose was to find the One and worship Him. Let’s make that our purpose too!

Join us this Sunday for Part 3 of our series entitled We Have Come to Worship.

There will be surprises and giveaways - you will not want to miss this 3rd Sunday of Advent.

Please come and bring a friend