When Jesus was born a few men (known to us as “wise men” or “magi”) saw a star in the sky and followed it to find him. What exactly did the wise men see? There are several theories including the idea that it was a comet or a planet or two planets (Jupiter and Saturn) colliding or a supernova. Whatever it was—it was bright! And it stayed in the sky for a couple of years because it took the wise men that long to travel the hundreds of miles (from Persia probably) to Bethlehem.
Which causes me to wonder . . . what star are we following? In other words, what guides us? There are many things that appear to be practical and popular but there is only one profitable source and that is God’s Word. Here’s how useful our Bible can be: “God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.”1
Where else can we find such help? Nowhere. Our “star” is scripture and in it we can find guidance for any situation. For example, God promises us this: “I will guide you and teach you the way you should go. I will give you good advice and watch over you.”2 The next verse, however, warns us that we will probably resist God’s “good advice.” It reads: “Don’t be like the horse or the mule. They can’t understand anything. They have to be controlled by bits and bridles. If they aren’t, they won’t come to you.”3
Apparently, we have a tendency to be a bit muleheaded! We love to go our own way, handle things ourselves, follow our own star—which the American Dream and Disney encourage us to do. But our way is not God’s way. Ever. Which is why Solomon reminds us to do this: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”4 Our thinking is flawed, our hearts are self-centered, our minds are limited in their perception because we can only “see in a mirror dimly.”5 To sum it up: We don’t know everything!
But God does and he will gladly share his wisdom with us if we simply ask, as James reminds us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”6 The wise men who followed the Bethlehem star might have been kings or priests or astrologers but they are not remembered for any of that. They are remembered because when they found Jesus, they were the first (besides his parents) to recognize that he was “king of the Jews.”7 And then they did two memorable things: 1) “they fell down and worshiped him.”8 and 2) “opening their treasures, they offered him gifts.”8 And Christmas was born—physically and metaphorically!
So, today—this Christmas day—let’s ask ourselves three questions: 1) What star are we following? 2) What treasures do we have? And 3) What gifts can we give to Jesus? And throughout this day, let’s respond as the wise men did: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy!”9
Merry Christmas!
12 Timothy 3:16 NIRV 2Psalm 32:8 NIRV 3Psalm 32:9 NIRV 4Proverbs 3:5 51 Corinthians 13:12 6James 1:5 7Matthew 2:2 8Matthew 2:11 9Matthew 2:10