Wise Men

It’s always neat to hear the story of the wise men at Christmas time.

The wise men saw a special star shining brightly in the sky the night that Jesus was born.  They knew it meant something important, but they didn’t know what.  Until they did some research.  As they studied they learned that the star marked the coming of a new King.  When they realized how special this new King was, that He was the one that God had promised to send to show everyone in the world how much God loves them, they wanted to go see Him.  They were willing to do whatever it took to find that baby that was born to be King.  They packed up their things and followed the star for months.  And months.  And months.  They kept following that star in the sky.  Until finally the star was above them and they noticed that the star was above a house in Bethlehem.  They probably knocked on the door and Joseph and Mary welcomed them in to see Jesus, who was now about two years old.  They gave Jesus, the King, their gifts that they had brought and they worshipped Him.

It’s a familiar story.  A true story.  And a lot to think about.

The wise men were going about their normal life and not necessarily doing things that pleased God, but God drew them to Himself in a way that God knew they would notice – by a star.  A bright shining star in the sky.  Did you know that God made you and loves you?  No matter what you have done, He wants you to come to know Him.  And if you do know God, are you shining the love of God in your world?  Do you live in a way that leads other people to Him?  Do you know that even if you are not, God still loves you?

The wise men studied and spent time discovering what that star in the sky meant and who the King could be.  Do you know who this King is?  If not, are you willing to find out?  And if you do know, how much time do you spend getting to know Him? God knows everything about you and what is going on in your life.  In fact, He knows you so well and cares about you so much that He even knows how many hairs are – or are not – on your head.

When the wise men realized how important this King was, they wanted to see Him and worship Him and they were willing to do whatever it took to find Him, even traveling for about two years unsure of exactly where that star would lead them.  Do you have a desire to worship God?  I tell my kids that I teach that worship is what you think, say or do that shows God you love Him.  Do you think, say or do things that show God you love Him?  And are you willing to follow Him, even when you’re not exactly sure where you might go?

Knowing that the baby they were looking for was born to be the King, they brought Him gifts for a King, not just ordinary baby gifts.  If you know who this King is, what kind of gifts do you give Him?

When they were ready to begin their journey back home, they remembered that they had been told to go back and tell King Herod where the baby was, but God warned them not to go back to King Herod.  They obeyed God and did not tell him.  Do you choose to obey God?

What if those wise men saw the star that night and said, “Oh!  What a neat star!” and that was all.  What if they missed discovering what that star was all about?  What if they missed seeing and worshipping the King?  There would be a whole part of the Christmas story that no one would tell.

But they did see the star and they did discover who Jesus is and they did worship Him.  And that is what God wants for each one of us.

We may not see a bright shining star in the sky, but we do see the Christmas reminders all around us.  So, don’t miss Christmas.  Don’t miss discovering what Christmas is all about.  God promised to send the Savior to save people from their sin because it is our sin that keeps us separated from God – the God who made us and loves us so much, who doesn’t want us to be separated from Him.  So at just the right time, Jesus, the Son of God, left Heaven and came here to be born as a human baby and live on the earth just like us, but He never sinned.  When He was a man He died on the cross and then came back to life again after three days and now He is living as King in Heaven.  Jesus is the Savior that God promised.  The little baby that was born on Christmas to show everyone one in the world that God loves them.  And God loves you.  You can make the choice to tell God that you have sinned and believe in what Jesus did for you when He died for your sin and then came back to life again, proving that He is the Son of God and the only one who can forgive sin.  Jesus was born to die so that you could have life today and forever.

God knows you and loves you and wants to draw you to Himself just like He did with the wise men.  He wants you to know Him.  To follow Him every day.  To worship Him.  To obey Him.  And when you do, you will have a story to tell.  Just like the wise men!

December Devotions: Seeking Shepherds

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’…So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told,” (Luke 2:8-20 NIV).

The news of Jesus came to the shepherds while they were doing their regular thing – living in the fields.  They were told the truth about Jesus and they went to see Him.  Later Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” (NIV).  That reminds me of what these shepherds did.  They dropped everything and looked for Jesus until they found Him.  Then they went and told people and people were amazed.

Are you seeking His kingdom and His righteousness today?  Check out the rest of that verse to see what happens when we do.  I’ll give you a hint.  When He made that statement, Jesus was talking about all of the things that we worry about and how the Father knows about the things that we need and He wants to take care of us.

Let’s be like those seeking shepherds today.  Let’s seek first the kingdom of God!

December Devotions: Pondering with Mary

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’…So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told,” (Luke 2:8-20 NIV).

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  She was caught right in the middle of God’s great plan, but she couldn’t have possibly understood it all.

What do you do when you are caught in a time that you don’t really understand?

Maybe Mary placed her baby in the manger and then thought, “What kind of mom am I?  My baby – the Son of God – is in a feeding trough for animals and that’s the best that I have for him.  I don’t know if I can do this.  Is this really part of Your plan, God?”  And then maybe the shepherds came rushing in with their faces glowing as words poured out of them about how all these angels had sung about the baby.  Mary was a regular person.  And a new mom. I’m sure she had some thoughts like that,  but I also think she thought back as she tried to understand all that was happening.

I think Mary probably thought about that day that the angel came and told her that she was going to have a baby – before she was married to Joseph, and the words that Elizabeth had spoken to her when she went to visit, “But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy,” (Luke 1:43-44 NIV), and how Joseph trusted her, and now how excited these shepherds were about her baby and about the amazing story that they told about the angels.

I think Mary thought about what she knew about this situation.  She knew that God had always taken care of her.  And she knew that God was good.  I wonder what she anticipated as she listened to the shepherds and sat there looking at baby Jesus.

So, what are you treasuring up today?  What are you pondering in your heart?

If you’re caught in a time that you don’t understand, can you stand in the fact that God is good and anticipate good things to come?