Walking With Christ

4 days until Christmas.

Matthew 2:10-11 (10)When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. (11)And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.(ESV)

The wise men followed a star. How many of us would be willing to pack up a serious amount of wealth and just move towards a star? I’m pretty sure that if I saw a new star in the sky it would be put out of mind in minutes. Here was have more than one wise man who saw this star and decided to go towards it. This is a huge step (or journey) of faith for these people. They follow this star without knowing where it will lead or what dangers they will find on the trip. It’s like the Oregon trail game except a star is leading the caravan.

These wise men were not Israelites either. They were called magi which is most certainly not something a Hebrew person would want to be called. Yet, they had “great” joy. It wasn’t just a thing to make them smile or something that they thought was noteworthy. No, this was great joy that they celebrated exceedingly. It was enough for them to grab a bundle of precious materials (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) and set out without a destination in mind. All they knew was that they were moving towards the star.

The star was the only compass they had. They most likely could only see it at night so they had to travel mainly at night. This light above the world signaled the coming of hope into the world. The anticipation of His arrival was almost over. He had arrived. The wise men only had to make an incredibly long journey to see Him.

When they did find Him, they didn’t just find Him. No, they worshipped Him. They fell down on their knees and faces and worshipped Him. These gentile men from other countries made this huge journey facing untold hardships and dangers along the way with lavish gifts in hand to lay at His feet.

These men were called wise. They were magi. That is a highly respected title. These were not common men where they came from. The gifts that they brought were lavish and extremely valuable. Yet, they fell down on their knees and faces in humility and recognition of who they had come to see.

These men truly understood the significance of the events they were chosen to be a part of. The gifts given symbolize honor, worship, and sacrifice. As we exchange physical gifts this season let us reflect on the gifts that WE offer Christ – our hearts, devotion, and commitment.

As we look forward to the day we all celebrate as His coming, let us also reflect on the joy, the real joy, that Christ brings into our lives. The wise men risked literally everything on a journey to see a child. Yes, a very special child, but they may not have known what to expect. They may have just been told to gather gifts for a king and follow the star. We can’t know. As we look at the journey of the wise men, we should also consider the stars in our own lives. What is guiding us on our journeys? How can we follow it more closely? How can we better emulate the worship of the wise men? What gifts can we truly offer Christ?

Let us approach the manger with humility and reverence. Let our hearts be filled with the great joy that causes us to celebrate exceedingly. Let us step out in faith as the wise men did to follow the light that will lead us to our savior.