Jonathan Munson, Executive Director, RFTH

“We saw his star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:2

You might not realize it, but today, January 6, is called Epiphany. This is when many Christians commemorate the wise men’s arrival in Bethlehem, marking the end of the twelve days of Christmas.

So, if, by chance, you still have your Christmas decorations up, you get a pass for today.

(But tomorrow is another story…☺ )

I’m reminded of the saying, “Wise men still seek Him.” And though it might sound a bit cliché, it’s packed full of truth.

You see, wise men and women humble themselves and seek the salvation found only in Jesus. Salvation, however, is just the beginning of the journey, not the end. 

In salvation, we “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). This “taste” should stir within us an insatiable hunger, an unquenchable thirst that beckons us to a pursuit of experiencing more of Jesus and His kingdom. Even if we’ve been Christians for most of our lives, we are not exempt from seeking Him. Jesus affirms this when He calls us to “seek first His kingdom.” which means an ongoing, continuous action (Matthew 6:33). But this kind of seeking requires intentional effort, care, and commitment.  

Bottom line:  If we’re not seeking, we’re slacking. There’s no middle ground.  

So, on this day of Epiphany, it’s time for some self-reflection: 

Are you still passionately seeking Him?
OR
Has your seeking gradually cooled off?

Before you answer, perhaps it’s helpful to reflect on the wise men’s story in the Bible. They are a beautiful example of what it looks like to seek Jesus above all else. 

Having seen the star in the East, these wise men set out on an incredible journey to find the “one who has been born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). They couldn’t just stay where they lived. No, they had to see the One who had captivated their attention with their own eyes.

And here’s the thing – having said “yes” to seeking Jesus meant they had to say “no” to countless other things.  In short, their seeking required sacrifice. JC Ryle explains:

“What trouble it must have cost them to travel from their homes to the house where Jesus was born! How many weary miles they must have journeyed! The fatigues of an Eastern traveler are far greater than we can understand. The time such a journey would occupy must have been great. The dangers to be encountered were neither few nor small. But none of these things moved them. They had set their hearts on seeing Him ‘that was born King of the Jews, and they never rested till they saw Him.” 

The wise men sacrificed their time, energy, and even their safety, to travel hundreds of miles to be in the presence of the long-awaited King. But what compelled them to continue seeking even when they were weary and fatigued? Why they’d make such an incredible sacrifice?

Because in their eyes, Jesus was (and is still) worthy.  

And when they were finally in the presence of Jesus, they “bowed down and worshiped Him” (Matthew 2:11). To worship means, ‘to declare the worthiness of something or someone.’ And from the wise men’s perspective, Jesus was absolutely worth it. 

Look, I know we all juggle a variety of responsibilities. We’re busy.  Believe me, I get it.  

But amidst all the activities to come in 2025, may we maintain a hunger to relentlessly seek after Jesus above all else. 

After all, it’s true what they say: Wise men still seek Him.

DIG DEEPER
Read “Seek Refuge and Find God” by Bryant Wright