Honestly, reading God's word is actually one of my greatest struggles. So many things - unimportant things - struggle for my attention and time. Some days, I joyfully bound downstairs to read His word and other days, I open my Bible and just stare blankly only to close the good Book and read something else for awhile.
Actually, my favorite days are those that begin with the struggle to sit down and be still and
while struggling to comprehend God's universe, suddenly, the words jump off the page and His words are alive and vibrant and I see a new facet of Christ.
That has been the entire Christmas season. Reading through different passages of prophecy and the story of the Nativity, the old story has become new. Again!
Today, I was in Matthew --
Matthew 2:1-11
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.
“In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the leaders of Judah:
because out of you will come a leader
who will shepherd My people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship Him.”
After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
As I read this today, a few points popped out at me:
1.) Why did the wisemen go to Herod? Was it just to honor the local dignitary or had they lost sight of the star?
2.) If the Wise Men had followed the star for what some people way smarter than I put at up to 2 years, why had no one in Bethlehem noticed it? Wouldn't a bright, beaming star be hard to miss? Or was the star, like a prophet, not received in it's own land?
3.) Not only was Herod disturbed by the thought of the birth of a King, but "all of Jerusalem with him." Why? Did they want a King? Or did they not want their current time of peace disturbed?
4.) "Herod secretly summoned the wise men" - deceit is often flattering. At first. Hence, the need for discernment is so important.
Then lastly, - "And there it was - they star they had seen in the east!"
These faithful men had followed a star from their homeland, across the desert, not knowing exactly what they would find at the end of the journey. When they lost vision of their guide, they sought human leadership and they didn't bring them an answer.
Then, suddenly, when they did not know where to go, God revealed their path! There it was!
I get that! Here we are in a new "land." Living in Illinois for 7 months, 1364.7 miles from our Colorado home. 25 hours from friends and 12 hours to the closest family. We've known God brought us here. Yet the past few weeks, I've missed the mountains and my Family of Choice and my family.
My eyes were not on the Star. They were on me.
"And there it was," - - - my answer today.
In a moment of quiet, God whispered in my ear, "Kimberly, the star revealed itself to those who were looking for it. You've been lost lately because you were looking for my direction in the wrong place, like they did in Herod's palace. Then you began looking to your own strength and you were overwhelmed. Look up! I will reveal myself to you. In my time!"
Will you stop what you are doing right now? Be still. Look up.
"Father God, I pray that you reveal your Star to your Child in your special way this very moment. For the one who has lost their way, be a path home. For the one who is hurting, be their path to healing. For those who mourn, be their Light of Joy. Let them look up and be amazed for there you are! The Light of Glory! Amen."
"Father God, I pray that you reveal your Star to your Child in your special way this very moment. For the one who has lost their way, be a path home. For the one who is hurting, be their path to healing. For those who mourn, be their Light of Joy. Let them look up and be amazed for there you are! The Light of Glory! Amen."
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