December 30
"In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.'"-Matthew 2:1-2 (NRSV)
The wise men traveled thousands of miles to see the king of the Jews. We don't know where they came from or how many there were. Tradition says they were scholars of high royal position from Parthia, near Babylon known as "Magi". They were well educated skilled astrologers who must have had copies of the Old Testament as they knew, even as foreigners, that the time had come for the advent of the Messiah. Yet most of God's people were still unaware of this. The Magi sought Christ by following a star predicted in the Old Testament that would reveal a Messiah and King. (Num.24:17) Some say this star may have been a conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars in 6 B.C. Others offer other explanations. Yet whatever the nature of this star, the Magi traveled thousands of miles searching for a king, before finding him.
When they finally discovered Jesus, the Wise Men responded with joy, worship, and gifts. This is so different from the approach many take today. In a consumer driven materialistic society rampant with flashy adds clamoring for attention, many expect God to come looking for us, explain himself, prove who he is, and give us gifts. But those who are truly wise still seek and worship Jesus today, not for What they can get, but for Who he is. There are many ways to seek Jesus. We can seek him in early Morning Prayer or in the still of the night when frightened by anxiety and doubt. Or we can seek him in a December morning sunrise amazed at the beauty of Gods creation. Or we can seek him in quiet church services tucked away in favorite pews enjoying familiar hymns and quiet assurances of familiar prayers. We can seek him beside beds of sick friends as we join in prayer for God's healing with Christ who stands with us at bedsides. If you seek him daily, you will find Christ wherever you are!
Prayer: Jesus, Thank you for always supporting me. Amen.
Meditation For The Day: Seeking God ensures keeping him close.
Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Winter Renewal Paperback – November 25, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)
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