I was reading earlier today about the Christmas star we will be able to see next week. It is pretty exciting! Jupiter and Saturn will align giving us the first Christmas star in 800 years! I am excited about that! It made me go back and re-read in the Bible about how the wise men followed that Christmas star long ago, chasing after the Christ child. Pondering on this story, I noticed some things about how they sought after Jesus and how I can learn from their example.
These wise men were probably men of high position, possibly astrologers from the East. They were from far away lands. They traveled thousands of miles to find the new born King. In Matthew 2:2, it says they said, "Where is He who is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star and have come to worship Him." They were on a mission. This was not a casual journey. This took a long time and a lot of effort. They put their lives and their agendas aside to see the Messiah. They were single-minded in their pursuit. The Bible doesn't give us many details, but we know this was a long journey. Seeing and worshipping the Messiah was their goal. They were all in. They sought him diligently, and they found him. Jeremiah 29:13, says," And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." I need to set aside my own agenda, my own comforts, and my own selfishness to truly seek Him. I want to really see Him and know Him. To find Him, I need to go all in, with my whole heart.
When they found Him, they responded with joy, worship and gifts. Matthew 2:10-11 says, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they came into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped him. And when they opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." This is very different from the approach people often take today. Many times we expect God to give US gifts. We can sometimes have a consumer mentality when it comes to God. We go into a relationship with God, seeking what He can do for us! We sometimes approach Him with a list of wants and needs. It is true that we can come to Him and let our requests be known to Him, and in fact, the Bible tells us to do so. However, I am convicted by this that I should approach God with wonder and awe! I should go to Him joy, praise and worship. He has given me more than I will ever deserve in Jesus! He has showered me with His grace and mercy! The more I focus on this, I can't help but worship Him! When I slow down and really seek Him wholeheartedly, the Holy Spirit fills me with such gratitude and joy, it is brimming over in my heart! All I can do is fall down before Him and offer all I have...which is my life. I just need to open my hands and my heart and offer up whatever I have to Him!
I can only imagine, on their journey, the wise men no doubt faced obstacles. After all, King Herod wanted to seek Jesus as well, but for a very different reason! He wanted to destroy Him! The wise men were warned in a dream to take a different way home to avoid Herod. They faced many things along the way, I am sure, but they stayed focused. Their mission was to find Jesus and worship Him. I, too, have to stay focused. I can't delight in His presence and truly sit at His feet and worship and learn from Him if I am constantly distracted by everything around me. I can't focus on my circumstances. If I do, I get stricken with worry, fear and doubt. When I take my eyes off of Him, I chase after the wrong things. I see the waves crashing around me, so to speak, and I start to sink. He is always there to pull me back up, but I want to keep my heart and my mind set on Him! He is the goal! He is the prize! When the wise men saw Him, they fell down in awe of His glory! I want to see His glory!
Lord, today and everyday, I want to seek you with all I have! I know that is the only way that I will truly find You, is if I search for You with all my heart!
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