After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." Matthew 2:1-3
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:11-12 NIV
I don't want to print the whole section (2:1-12), but most of you already know the story. And even if you do, you still might want to go back and read the story again. The best stories I love to read over and over.
Wise men--Magi--came from the east. "The east" could have been anywhere from Arabia to China. We assume it was a bit farther than Arabia. From wherever, these men had been following a star that proclaimed, at least to them, that a stupendous King had been born. They came to bring Him gifts and to worship Him.
Somehow they lost track of the star for a time. My personal theory, based on absolutely nothing but simplistic logic, is that it was cloudy. They did what was logical to them: they stopped to ask the present king. Silly men, they thought this king must know where the new King would be.
Herod asked his own wise men. They consulted the scriptures and determined that it had to be Bethlehem. Sure enough, just before the wise men from the east reached Bethlehem, the star showed up again and lit the rest of the way.
How is your star doing? Is it hidden behind the clouds? With the busy-ness of the holidays and the scramble of putting food on the table and a roof over your head, have you lost track of the Star of Bethlehem?
Prayer: Lord, please help us keep You in front of us when things overwhelm us. Help us remember You are the One who guides and provides. Help us when our faith flags and our spirit sinks to keep our eyes on You, Lord, You--the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
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