1 00:00:10,780 --> 00:00:13,740 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're glad to have you 2 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,220 Speaker 1: listening with us. Today's topic is about worship and when 3 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: it requires a long journey. We'll return with the devotional 4 00:00:21,220 --> 00:00:38,190 Speaker 1: after a brief message from our sponsors. When Worship Requires 5 00:00:38,210 --> 00:00:41,170 Speaker 1: a Long Journey. Written and read by Hannah L. 6 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 2: Benson. 7 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,019 Speaker 1: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in 8 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from 9 00:00:49,260 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 1: the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he who 10 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:55,100 Speaker 1: has been born king of the Jews? For we saw 11 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,770 Speaker 1: his star when it rose, and have come to worship him. 12 00:00:58,510 --> 00:01:03,170 Speaker 1: Matthew 2, 1-2 ESV. When we think of Christmas, we 13 00:01:03,290 --> 00:01:06,309 Speaker 1: often think of Christmas carols, a baby lying in a manger, 14 00:01:06,910 --> 00:01:09,569 Speaker 1: shepherds in the field and wise men bearing gifts to 15 00:01:09,610 --> 00:01:12,979 Speaker 1: the King of the Jews. But the first Christmas wasn't 16 00:01:13,060 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: as silent and as calm as the carols lead us 17 00:01:15,940 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: to believe. Before Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph endured 18 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: what may have been a roughly 90-mile journey to Bethlehem, 19 00:01:24,500 --> 00:01:28,810 Speaker 1: according to historical geography. And miles away in the east, 20 00:01:29,030 --> 00:01:30,110 Speaker 1: another journey began. 21 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:31,380 Speaker 2: One that would. 22 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:35,470 Speaker 1: Require months of travel across harsh terrain before these travelers 23 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,950 Speaker 1: ever laid eyes on the king. We don't know how 24 00:01:39,030 --> 00:01:42,490 Speaker 1: long the Magi traveled before they arrived in Bethlehem, but 25 00:01:42,550 --> 00:01:46,869 Speaker 1: scripture offers an interesting clue. When King Herod inquired about 26 00:01:46,890 --> 00:01:49,990 Speaker 1: the star's appearance and eventually ordered the execution of male 27 00:01:50,050 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: children in the region, he targeted boys two years old 28 00:01:53,660 --> 00:01:58,980 Speaker 1: and younger, Matthew 2.16. This means Jesus was likely a toddler. 29 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,060 Speaker 1: already living in a house, Matthew 2.11, suggesting the wise 30 00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: men's search was not an easy, brief journey, but a relentless, 31 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: long-term pursuit. The wise men were well-versed in astronomy and 32 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: had no doubt studied the stars and signs in the sky. 33 00:02:14,740 --> 00:02:18,260 Speaker 1: It's also possible they were familiar with Jewish prophecy and 34 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: the rumblings of the coming Messiah. Either way, the moment 35 00:02:22,100 --> 00:02:24,459 Speaker 1: they saw the star rise in the east, they knew 36 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,940 Speaker 1: something amazing had happened and that the long-awaited king of 37 00:02:27,980 --> 00:02:31,269 Speaker 1: the Jews had been born. We often think of the 38 00:02:31,430 --> 00:02:34,170 Speaker 1: end of the Magi's journey, the moment when they fell 39 00:02:34,230 --> 00:02:37,870 Speaker 1: on their faces before Jesus, worshipped him, and presented him 40 00:02:37,910 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But we 41 00:02:41,540 --> 00:02:45,620 Speaker 1: rarely consider the months, or perhaps years, spent traversing desert 42 00:02:45,660 --> 00:02:50,060 Speaker 1: expanses and rocky terrain. While the book of Matthew doesn't 43 00:02:50,139 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: detail their route, we can infer from historians that day 44 00:02:53,260 --> 00:02:57,490 Speaker 1: after day, they likely would have faced scorching heat, freezing nights, 45 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: the constant threat of abandons and the fatigue of an 46 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: exhausting journey. 47 00:03:03,419 --> 00:03:04,010 Speaker 2: Think about it. 48 00:03:04,580 --> 00:03:08,220 Speaker 1: These wise men traveled across the perilous desert. No doubt 49 00:03:08,260 --> 00:03:10,580 Speaker 1: they knew one wrong turn could cost them both their 50 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,660 Speaker 1: lives and the treasures they carried. But no matter what 51 00:03:14,700 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: they encountered, God protected them. By the time they arrived 52 00:03:18,540 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: at the house where the young king stayed, their treasures 53 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,410 Speaker 1: were intact, ready to be offered in worship. Imagine their 54 00:03:25,490 --> 00:03:29,350 Speaker 1: immense joy when they finally arrived where Jesus was. When 55 00:03:29,389 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: the star went before them and then rested over the place. 56 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:38,350 Speaker 1: Scripture records that they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Matthew 2, 9, 57 00:03:38,350 --> 00:03:43,150 Speaker 1: 10 ESV. What must it have been like to feel 58 00:03:43,190 --> 00:03:46,170 Speaker 1: that joy course through their veins as the moment they 59 00:03:46,230 --> 00:03:51,620 Speaker 1: pursued for so long finally arrived? It's likely these were 60 00:03:51,700 --> 00:03:55,820 Speaker 1: wealthy and influential men who chose to humble themselves by 61 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,660 Speaker 1: traveling to see a king at the time still a 62 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: young child. Intersecting faith and life. I don't know what 63 00:04:03,580 --> 00:04:06,810 Speaker 1: you're going through today. Perhaps you feel like you're traveling 64 00:04:06,820 --> 00:04:11,310 Speaker 1: through the proverbial desert or fighting to survive. I wonder 65 00:04:11,350 --> 00:04:14,250 Speaker 1: if the wise men ever felt like giving up. Surely 66 00:04:14,310 --> 00:04:17,310 Speaker 1: the journey was laborious. Did they ever wonder if they 67 00:04:17,330 --> 00:04:19,550 Speaker 1: would make it in time, if the trek was worth 68 00:04:19,610 --> 00:04:23,210 Speaker 1: the difficulty? While it may have been difficult, the wise 69 00:04:23,250 --> 00:04:26,610 Speaker 1: men chose to keep moving forward, trusting that what they 70 00:04:26,630 --> 00:04:28,610 Speaker 1: would find at the end of their journey would make 71 00:04:28,650 --> 00:04:32,349 Speaker 1: it all worth it. And once, they laid their eyes 72 00:04:32,450 --> 00:04:34,890 Speaker 1: on Jesus and fell on their knees before the King 73 00:04:34,930 --> 00:04:37,410 Speaker 1: of the Jews. I'm sure they didn't think about how 74 00:04:37,510 --> 00:04:40,890 Speaker 1: hard it was to get there. While we are traveling 75 00:04:40,940 --> 00:04:44,100 Speaker 1: across a physical desert, our lives as believers are a 76 00:04:44,140 --> 00:04:48,020 Speaker 1: journey of their own. Keep moving forward. The road may 77 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: be long and wearying, but the prize waiting at the 78 00:04:50,740 --> 00:04:57,339 Speaker 1: end Jesus himself makes every single step worth it. Pray 79 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,670 Speaker 1: with me. Dear Father God, I feel like I'm on 80 00:05:01,710 --> 00:05:05,490 Speaker 1: a long journey today, and I'm struggling to keep going. 81 00:05:06,850 --> 00:05:09,430 Speaker 1: Please help me to worship you even when it's hard, 82 00:05:09,970 --> 00:05:12,789 Speaker 1: and to keep pressing onward to see your face at 83 00:05:12,810 --> 00:05:17,990 Speaker 1: the end of this race. In Jesus' name, amen. 84 00:05:18,010 --> 00:05:18,250 Speaker 3: Amen. 85 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,300 Speaker 2: If you're looking to grow in prayer or start your 86 00:05:25,339 --> 00:05:27,180 Speaker 2: day with your heart focused on the right things, search 87 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,599 Speaker 2: for Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app and 88 00:05:29,620 --> 00:05:53,470 Speaker 2: be sure to follow the show So you get a 89 00:05:53,550 --> 00:05:56,609 Speaker 2: new prayer delivered straight to you each morning. 90 00:06:03,710 --> 00:06:07,190 Speaker 3: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 91 00:06:07,230 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 3: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 92 00:06:10,980 --> 00:06:13,860 Speaker 3: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 93 00:06:13,900 --> 00:06:19,739 Speaker 3: deeper in their faith. 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