Christmas Character Series
Matthew 2:1-12
(Use the link below to
read the verses.)
Recently,
my wife and I were planning to meet some friends for lunch at the Mohican State
Park lodge; a little over an hour’s drive. It would be a beautiful setting in
the rustic lodge, overlooking Pleasant Hill Lake in the middle of the Mohican
State Forest.
There would be a fire in the stone fireplace and a twenty-five
foot Christmas tree beautifully decorated.
Before
leaving, we set our GPS for Mohican State Park… but not the lodge. Recalculation
required! When our GPS said “You have arrived”, there was nothing but pine
trees and hills around us; no sign of the lodge. Panic quickly set in. We found
that our GPS is only as good as the settings for the final destination.
After Jesus was born in
Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to
Jerusalem 2 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.” NIV
The
Magi didn’t have a GPS, but they saw the star and knew it was a sign. Because
they didn’t know precisely where to find the king of the Jews, they went to
Jerusalem to continue their search. They consulted King Herod who in turn
consulted the religious leaders who led them to Bethlehem in Judea.
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the
star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place
where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were
overjoyed. 11 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. NIV
To
find the king of the Jews, the Magi went on a long journey. That journey
started and ended with a star. To find the king of the Jews today doesn’t
require a brightly lit star or consulting with a king or even a long journey.
Jesus
continuously stands at the door of your heart knocking, waiting for you to
respond. He sends the Holy Spirit to open your heart, to give you direction and
then the power to follow him. You don’t need a GPS to find Jesus.
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