Joy: A Call to Worship

Matthew 2:9-11

After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

As we look at the first of four passages emphasizing the characteristics of "joy" that should be evident in Christ-followers, there is one question that I want to ask about it: "How does joy display itself here, or how is joy embodied?"

It appears to me that the by-product of joy (Greek: 'chara') that the wise men experience is worship. But, it is not just worship that the wise men experience, it is a specific type of worship, a worship that costs us something.

I can say, that as a church staff member, I get to witness many of my coworkers worship in this way. For many staff members, it is clear that their vocation is an extension of their worship and it is evident how God blesses the time and comforts that they give up to serve Him in their jobs.

Is that a type of worship that you experience or witness regularly?