The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. Proverbs 15:8
We are supposed to be devoted to prayer. Interesting use of words since prayer is the measure of our relationship with God. We are to be devoted to Him. That devotion is fostered through prayer. That is why when you take 15 minutes to read something like this and reflect to God it is called a devotional. You are investing in your relationship with God. Drawing closer to Him. We are also supposed to pray continually. While this may seem like an impossibility to our finite minds we need to take it at face value. What God is saying here is that He wants to be on the forefront of our minds, in everything we do. Prayer should not be an occasion but rather a state of mind. It should not be something scheduled as much as it should be a God consciousness. Lastly, prayer is so important because it actually pleases God! That is the gift you can give Him this Christmas. He desires what you hold most valuable and He is pleased by your prayer and devotion.
The same goes for praise the other inference from the frankincense gift of the Magi. Our praise is like a sweet aroma to God. It places us in the correct posture of humility before Him. How serious does God take praise?
Yet
you are holy, enthroned on the praises of
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13: 15 (ESV)
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. John 4:23 (ESV)
God actually inhabits the praises of His people! Prayer draws us towards God and praise draws Him towards us! That is why the Bible says to enter His gates with thanksgiving. Once again we see the "continuous" language. God recognizes that this is actually a sacrifice on our part because praise is not always easy. When life is tough and we are facing trials and tribulations, it is then that praise is needed even more. When Paul and Silas were in prison and in stocks it was their singing praise and hymns unto God that brought His mighty presence into that cell and freed them! Lastly, as prayer pleases God He is also seeking people to worship Him in spirit and in truth. That is the gift you can give Him this Christmas! He desires what you hold most valuable, is pleased by your prayer and devotion, and is seeking your praise and worship.
The last gift of the Magi was myrrh. This was another gum resin of the time which Jesus walked the earth but it had a different use. It was primarily used as a burial spice and the Egyptians used it for embalming. It was more adhesive than frankincense, sealing the wound from the tree it was drawn from far easier. Its usage with death and sealing what was wounded correlates to our faith. We have faith that death in this mortal body is only the beginning of an eternal life spent with God. We believe by faith that our past wounds are healed and sealed by the author and finisher of that faith Jesus Christ. Faith is the last gift we can consider giving unto God this season. How serious does God take the issue of faith?
