And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 ESV

The wise men had crossed deserts, rivers and mountains. They had gotten lost, faced a treacherous king and learned from an ancient prophecy of where to find Jesus. You might think they would have been dismayed at their reception in Bethlehem. They had come for a king maybe thinking there awaited a royal welcome, a place to rest and sumptuous surroundings. Instead they came to a small house in a simple village where a carpenter and his young wife opened the door in astonishment at their arrival.

But the wise men were not disappointed or discouraged because they had come with one goal in mind. They had come to worship! As we approach Christmas we need to be careful to keep the attitude of those men. We mustn’t imagine that a proper Christmas celebration has anything to do with a beautifully decorated home, fine food on the table, or all the correct holiday preparations. All journeying to Bethlehem asks of us is to have open and humble hearts ready for any doorway which God brings us to. Christmas is not about our reception at the palace, but about the worship and gifts we bring for Jesus!