Follow the Star: An Uninhibited Quest
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. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. (Matthew 2:9-10 NIV)
This group of people saw something beyond their own world and decided to embark on a journey to follow the star, without clear time frames or direction. Perhaps there is something of that adventuring spirit in us as followers of Christ?
What can we learn about our walk with Jesus from this well-known story? What was it that made these men depart from their homes and travel vast distances?
They recognized something in the appearance of the star that informed their decision to move. Sometimes we recognize a significance in a moment or encounter, but don’t fully understand the consequence of it until later.
Inconvenienced for the Cause
These men were willing to step out of their everyday routine and surroundings to follow something greater. We often live busy lives with full schedules, and it can be difficult to operate with any type of flexibility. When life throws us a curve ball, it may upset our routines. Are we willing to step out of the ordinary pattern and walk with our eyes lifted to the things around us? Can God ‘inconvenience’ us as we go about our days?
Focused in Their Objective
These followers were clear about the journey ahead. We can confidently assume that every night as the stars came out, they took out their telescopes and found the star again in the sky. They made sure that the path ahead was going in the right direction. Even as they rode, perhaps they periodically glanced up to see the star above them. Maybe they even sang songs of praise to pass the time. But throughout the trip they would have known where the star was and been completely committed to reaching their destination.
It can be so easy at this time of year to be caught up in plans, festivities, and traditions, but let’s pray that this year will be different. May our eyes may be fixed upon the true heart of Christmas, Jesus.
Unrelenting in Their Pursuit
Scholars dispute the timeline of the wise men’s journey, but one thing we can agree on is that it wasn’t a short trip. Wherever they came from, it would have taken a long time to complete the journey. There would have been times of tiredness along the way, maybe even a diversion of some kind. Whatever happened, they didn’t stop traveling. Whatever the weather, they kept on going.
As we reflect on the past year, we encourage you in two things: one, don’t forget to celebrate the distance you have come this year; and two, commit to continue travelling. You may not be where you need to be yet, but you are not where you were; and that is something to celebrate.
Generous in Their Giving
When they arrived at the destination, the wise men didn’t hold back in their generosity. They gave abundantly. The journey itself would have been costly. Not just financially, but in time and resources too, but that didn’t stop them giving their best when faced with the baby in the manger. They trusted in the significance of the star, more than what they saw in Bethlehem, and allowed that to ignite their generosity. Sometimes our giving is based upon the perception of something rather than the significance of it.
This Christmas, our prayer is that we might be willing to step out of our day-to-day routines and into an uncharted ‘inconvenience’ of an encounter with God. That we would be focused on Jesus and committed to journeying through life with Him. That we might be generous people in this season—generous in love, hospitality, time, grace, as well as with our material gifts.
Christmas is the time we celebrate the greatest gift ever given to us. A time where we remember the moment where divinity became humanity, so we might be released from our slavery. And here’s the thing: a star still shines today. Jesus, the Bright Morning Star, is still blazing in the heavens. The question is, are you going to follow?
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