LITTLE KNOWLEDGE, MUCH FAITH
‘We have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.’
The Wise Men offered to the Lord Jesus Christ the very best they possibly could; they gave Him the homage of their hearts. They were sincere in worshipping Him, and they also offered gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. I would ask you all to do as the wise men did, and offer yourselves to Him.
I. True wisdom.—They were wise men, and the way in which they showed their wisdom was in going, at great trouble and expense, and perhaps peril, in order to give the homage of their hearts to Christ. They had the wisest wisdom, the spirit of the Holy Ghost, to guide them by means of the star to where Christ, the new-born King, was to be found.
II. Little knowledge.—The wise men had very little to help them, but they made the best use of what they had. When the extraordinary star appeared, which was always connected with the coming of a new king, they felt confident that the time had come, and they set forth upon that difficult and dangerous journey in order to go and worship Christ. They had no Gospel, and in this respect they put us to shame. Here we are, with our complete Bible, and Church services and meetings, and yet some of us have not even yet given our hearts to Christ.
III. Much faith.—These wise men triumphed over the difficulties which stood in their way. They had so little to guide them from the world’s point of view. They went in speculation, as it were; they might have been disappointed, and have had all their trouble in vain; but they were not to be deterred by any consideration of that kind. When they got to Jerusalem there came a very great difficulty and a disappointment. They were told there was no new king there, they were told that Herod was king; and, added to this very great disappointment, their guiding star had disappeared. They might have considered that they had made a mistake, and have turned back. But no, they were thoroughly in earnest. Even when the Wise Men saw the star again that did not finish their disappointment. The star went on to Bethlehem, and took them to an inn. But there was no Christ in the inn. And at length the star stood over a very humble building, a mere shed, a stable. Then surely they might have given up the search altogether, but faith enabled them to triumph over every difficulty.
IV. Whole-hearted adoration.—At once these men fell down before him, and they laid at His feet not only their hearts, but also the most expensive things they had brought with them. The best things they gave were their hearts. If you will only take Christ as your Saviour, and pray earnestly for the guiding of the Holy Ghost, then your path will indeed be prosperous and happy, and you will be able to triumph over every difficulty until at last in Heaven itself you are able to lay yourselves down at His feet and worship Him as King of kings and Lord of lords.
The Rev. H. L. James.