FEATURE STORY
A friend was talking to me recently and she mentioned the phrase that she’s praying for a family member to “bow to Jesus.” That phrase stuck in my mind and I thought about the manger scene and the story we read this time of year about when the wise men bowed when they saw Jesus, bringing him their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
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Bending your body, by definition, is a sign or respect, deference, or worship and it can mean to submit to another’s authority. It’s a voluntary gesture…the act of bowing without coercion.
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I kept thinking about bowing to Jesus in my own life, and wondered if I have that posture of respect, deference and worship…submitting to his authority.
I don’t like his ways sometimes, his silence, his inaction (from my viewpoint) or just the hard things he requires of those that love him…like sacrifice and laying down our lives for others. So, therefore, I wonder if I truly respect his ways.
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Deference is hard for all of us, as humans. It’s being humble in our submission to an authority. I wondered if I am humble when I submit to Christ and his challenge to love the unkind, do good to my enemies and love others as I love myself. Humility does not come easy. I even need him to be humble…
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I have very rarely bowed in worship, physically, but I wonder what that would feel like if I tried it. Oh, I’ve bowed in shame, knelt in sorrow, and bent over in grief. But bowing in worship, like the three wise men did…bearing gifts for the Messiah. Have I done that?
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In our culture and in the cultures of our societies at large, folks do bow in some countries, to authorities out of honor. But mostly, we hear that we don’t have to bow to anyone. And bowing to another authority is a sign of weakness.
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Psalm 96 says,
Come, let us bow down and worship him; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! He is our God;
we are the people he cares for, the flock for which he provides.
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We have this personal invitation to bow down in worship the Lord…our Maker. And it’s because he is our God – he cares for us – and provides all we need. There is no other like him. And one more reason for bowing is to express gratitude…with a nod and a lowered head…at the grace that’s been extended to us.
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There are many examples of people bowing to God in the bible…physically. And while I hope I have bowed in my heart as I have received his love for forgiveness, mercy and grace…I’m thinking of bowing physically this Christmas season.
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What might that look like? I don’t know, but I may try:
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Bowing by my bed at night in thanksgiving for another day.
Bowing after I rise in the morning and I see the sunrise…again…with a nod to the Creator.
Bowing alone in my bedroom, not in shame, but in sorrow when I’ve hurt someone I love, as I receive forgiveness from the Savior.
Bowing like a curtsy to the King of King on Christmas Day and throughout the year, as I purpose to honor him in all I do.
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Bowing to Jesus. It means so much, doesn’t it, as we humble our hearts. But I want to see what it’s like to bend my knee too…and this is your invitation to join me. The wise men bowed after they were overjoyed at seeing the Star in the sky. It was a physical response to the power of a mighty God. And the treasures they were carrying just spilled out at his feet. What a beautiful picture in a manger…and one I want to create in my own life, as well.