God's Guiding Stars
Matthew 2.9-11
9 After [the Magi] 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.
Long before GPS or map technology came about, traveling in the ancient world implied a treacherous, long, and often undulating journey. When we read of the Magi, we must understand that the journey "from the East" suggests a rather lengthy journey that could have spun from weeks to months. Yet in this journey we see a subtle yet powerful message: God sends direction when we need it. Matthew explains that the "star [the Magi] had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was." Let us stop and consider the meaning of this. The star was not merely a directional navigator, but an indicator of God's direction and eternal guidance to achieve His purposes in our lives. If God can guide a star to point others to Jesus, He can guide you and I to Him. Indeed, He doesn't stop there! Once we have Christ in our hearts, the Holy Spirit points us like a star into the land of blessing and purpose. You see, God's plans for us are mighty and wonderful. Never has he led a man or woman fully dedicated to Him into the void. Even through the vast and limitless expansion of stars above, God cares enough to guide His children through a single star.
In Genesis 15.5 we see that "[God take Abram] outside and [say], 'Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.' Then he [says] to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'" What is God saying here? Once again, He is using stars to demonstrate that the immensity of heaven is under His command, and He will bless Abram with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.
This Christmas season, these two illustrations of stars ought to cause us to realize something: God is always giving us a star to point the way to Christ's will. Just as the Magi were pointed to the Christ-Child, so are we everyday. Let us listen to the Holy Spirit. Let our hearts be open and tender about the things of God. Beloved, may our whole being be excited and joyful each day at the works God is doing with His children. Isn't it great to be a child of God?
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