Introduction: We are all familiar with the Christmas story about the three wise men. In the Greek New Testament, they are called "Magoi." Who were they? There are many legends not found in the Bible. The only hint the Bible gives is that they come from the East, which points toward Persia or Babylonia. Daniel 2:48 tells us that Nebechadnezzar placed Daniel over all the "wise men" of Babylon. Daniel probably familiarized the wise men of Babylon with the Torah, in which there is a passage (Numbers 24:17-19) predicting a star and the coming of the King of the Jews:

"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel...A ruler will come out of Jacob..."

It may be that the Magi of Matthew were familiar with this passage from the Old Testament, and that God created a special star to bring them to Bethlehem. The Magi had five qualities that made them really WISE men:

I. They were willing to pay attention to God's revelations.

A. Over thousands of years, God has revealed Himself to men and women in many ways: dreams, visions, miracles and so on. God revealed Himself and His will to the Magi by sending a star, and by somehow making them understand the significance of the star. The Magi were willing to pay attention.

B. God will probably not speak to you by sending a star, or by dreams and visions, but He has spoken, and He is still speaking to you and me in His Word, and also in His creation.

C. Psalm 19:1-3 says: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard."

D. 2 Peter 1:19 says: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts."

E. Are we willing to pay attention to God's revelations to us? Or are we deaf and blind to the messages from creation and God's Word? Do we want to hear from God, or are we too wrapped up in our selves and the business of life?

II. They were willing to seek Jesus.

A. It was quite a big deal for a Persian or Babylonian "wise man" to leave his pagan religions and gods behind to seek for Jesus, and to worship Jesus, the King of the Jews. But they were willing.

B. Many people today want to be religious, but they don't want to seek Jesus. Other religions are more attractive to them.

C. But there is salvation only in Jesus, God's Son.

1. Acts 4:10-12 says, "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

2. I John 5:11-12 says, "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

III. They were willing to seek Jesus patiently.

A. It took the Magi two years from their first sighting of the star to their worshipping of the young child Jesus. They had to endure a difficult journey of many days and dangers, but they patiently persevered.

B. We need patience to live the Christian life. Hebrews 12:1 says: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

IV. They were willing to worship Jesus.

A. The Greek word for worship is proskuneo, and means literally to "prostrate of fall down before" a person or God.

B. Our American culture immediately makes it difficult for us to understand the concept of worship. In other countries, and in other times, people prostrated themselves before their kings. For example: Genesis 50:18, Joseph's brothers fall down before Joseph; 2 Samuel 18:28, Ahimaaz falls down before king David; Esther 8:3, Esther prostrates herself at the kings feet; and so on.

C. Some churches have "kneelers" in the pews, and that's not a bad idea. It would be a good exercise for us to literally get down on our knees in our private prayer time at home. We physically acknowledge with out bodies that God is the King, and that we are merely His humble servants.

D. To worship means to prostrate yourself before God, not just in the flesh, but in your heart. To submit to Him. To acknowledge His power and authority over our lives. To glorify and adore and praise Him.

V. They were willing to serve Jesus.

A. They served Him well at that point in His life by providing finances. They brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. The gold was immediately spendable. The frankincense and myrrh would have been easy to sell for a large amount of money. The Magi served Jesus as they were able, and they met His needs at the time.

B. Joseph and Mary never did have much money. Also we note here that Joseph is not even mentioned in the visit of the Magi, and he may have died, leaving Mary a poor widow.

C. There are many ways WE can serve Jesus, but first we must be willing. We must have a heart for service.

Joshua 22:5 says "But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."

D. Are you willing to serve God? Are you willing to clean up or fix things around the church? Are you willing to visit the sick? Are you willing to prepare the Lord's table? Are you willing to help with WIC projects? Are you willing to assist with our pre-school or elementary school? Are you willing to help with the Nursery? Are you willing to teach Sunday School? Are you willing to move tables and chairs? Are you willing to sing in the choir? We can go on and on. There is much service that needs doing. But many only want to show up Sunday morning and sit in the pew for an hour, and that's it. They are not willing to give of their time, their money, their physical effort, and so on.

Conclusion: The Magi had many good qualities, and we can learn from them. May the Lord help us to listen to God's Word to us, and to patiently seek Jesus' fellowship. Amen.