This is an extended quote from Puritan author Thomas Brooks, which is appropriately themed for the holiday season. I found it at the site of an old friend of mine, who now pastors a church in London.

The quote encourages to think highly and clearly about the reign of the great King, Jesus Christ, and of our soon entrance into His holy, heavenly Kingdom. And it encourages us to follow the example of the wise men, who humbly bow in homage and worship to the King of kings.

Are you following the guidance of the star of Bethlehem through the dark wilderness of life? If you are, you will be led to the Sun of Righteousness; you will find Jesus; and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man can take from you. And in a little while, your eyes shall behold the King of Zion, your exalted Savior, in the heavenly mansions, where his glory will be no more veiled as it was on earth. This blessed vision may be very near.

The sight of your Father’s house above, may be ready to open upon your enraptured view. Angels may be waiting to conduct your happy soul to the glorious presence of King Jesus, who now reigns on heaven’s highest, brightest throne. You may be about to sit down among that ransomed throng, who are now beholding the glory of Him, who was born in Bethlehem, and crucified on Calvary. You may be about to gaze upon that countenance which now shines as the sun; to see those hands which were for you nailed to the cross; to hear that voice, which alone can speak pardon and peace to the guilty, troubled soul. Oh, let us be thankful for that spiritual light which points us to such untold blessedness. And let our joy increase more and more, as by faith we see the Star of Morning, guiding us to glory and immortality. ‘Exult in his holy name; O worshipers of the Lord, rejoice!’

When the wise men find the Savior they fall down, and worship Him. Notwithstanding the low and unhonored condition in which they see Him, they at once prostrate themselves in His presence with grateful hearts, paying homage to His name, and presenting unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. What a noble example is here presented to us! When we find the blessed Jesus, we should acknowledge His majesty, worship Him as our divine Savior, while, at the same time, we should give Him the strongest affections of our hearts, and the best services of our lives. We should present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Him, which is our reasonable service. We should honor Him with our substance, and with the first-fruits of all our increase. Counting nothing too valuable to be withheld from Him, we should be ready, if necessary, to part with life itself for the sake of Him who, in His incomparable mercy, laid down His own precious life for us, that we might never experience the second death–that we might be crowned with a blissful immortality.

Thomas Brooks, The Star of Bethlehem

If you would like to listen to a Christmas themed sermon, here is one I preached a couple of years ago, which others have mentioned they enjoyed. I’ll take the opportunity for a cheap form of free advertising for our church’s website and our sermon audio.