Every year on Christmas night, we go over to my father-in-law's house. On his dining room table, there's always a little announcement that reads: "You are cordially invited to a birthday celebration. Guest of honor: Jesus Christ. Date: Every day. Traditionally December 25th, but He's always around so the date is flexible. Time: Whenever you're ready. Please don't be late though, or you'll miss out on all the fun. Place: In your heart. He'll meet you there, you'll hear Him knock."

Take a moment to read the story of the wise men in Matthew 2:1-12. I've got a little news flash for you: This event didn't happen at Christmas; it happened much later. Verse 1 says, "Now after Jesus was born." It wasn't just a day or so after; it was quite some time later, perhaps up to a year or so.

I say this because verse 11 says, "When they had come into the house." Joseph and Mary were not in a stable anymore. By this time, they had moved into a house. Secondly, when Jesus was presented in the temple (see Luke 2:22-24), Joseph and Mary gave two turtledoves for the sacrifice. This was what the very poor could offer if they couldn't afford a lamb. But if they had received the gifts from the wise men before that, they would have had enough gold to afford a lamb. So the wise men's visit took place much later.

There's a reason I point this out. As Christians, we don't celebrate Jesus Christ once a year, for one day. We celebrate Jesus Christ all year long, every day. And that's very important to remember now that Christmas is over.

But let's go back to the visit of the magi, because they had the proper reaction: "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped him" (v. 11).

Their proper reaction was to bow before Jesus in worship and humility. And it's the proper reaction for us as well. God wants you; He wants your heart. He wants you to commit your life to Him personally and to worship Him, like these wise men did.

Are you like the magi--following Christ, bowing, and worshiping in humility?

When a person truly, honestly comes to Jesus Christ, they're never the same. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). It'll change you forever. Has it? Christmas is over but Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever.

Christmas is over; Christ is not. In a few short days, we'll begin a whole new year of possibilities of what God might do. May God, by His Spirit, show us how our lives can be different, not just one day or one week a year, but the whole year. And may Christ be magnified in us, each and every day!