What a fitting way to end the year! My guest blogger is someone I have spent a WHOLE BUNCH OF 2020 with–my editor and friend Shea! Of course, we have spent this time via text, phone calls, and endless word documents through email because she lives in Texas and I’m in Georgia. We have shared some very sweet moments this year–priceless discussions and inspiring thoughts. The Lord has blessed us as we worked together to edit Trusting God.
Today . . . I introduce you to the writer—Shea Buchanan.
Tinsel! Glitter! Sequins! Lights!
Christmas time is filled with lots of sparkles. And I love sparkly things!
When I see all of the twinkling lights decorating houses and buildings, I am reminded of the Star of Bethlehem that shone brightly in the night sky heralding the birth of a King. Our King. Jesus.
There is much discussion and debate about the Star right now because of the celestial event like that occurred on December 21st. The views of its appearance and existence span from it being a nova or supernova to it being a comet to it being a triple alignment of certain planets. But all of these suggestions, though scientific, have flaws when we look at the historical timeline.
Believers maintain varied ideas when it comes to explaining the Star too. Some think the Star could have been a natural occurrence that was set in place by God as He created the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1 because He knew man was going to need redemption. Others think that maybe the star was possibly an angel, a messenger guiding the wise men from the East to the Christ child. Some Christians believe it could have been the Shekinah glory of God announcing His Son’s birth.
Matthew 2 tells the story of the wise men from the East; how they followed a star to Jerusalem; how they talked with King Herod about what they thought the star meant; how they continued to follow the star to a home in Bethlehem. And how, “when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.” (Matt. 2:11). And then, “when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matt. 2:12).”
We don’t know much about these wise men. They were learned and educated of course. In some stories they are also called Kings. But what is most significant is that, although they clearly were wealthy – gold, frankincense, and myrrh weren’t cheap — and they had some sort of power and opportunity available to them, they CHOSE to worship the baby Jesus. They didn’t question the validity of His position as a King. They didn’t try to figure out ways to make Him less than He truly is. They didn’t try to make Him more like themselves to lessen His position as Lord and so they could feel better about themselves. They didn’t even see themselves fit to stand in His presence. They didn’t care how far they would have to travel or how long it would take to reach the place to which the Star was guiding them. They followed and they worshipped.
This Star guided the wise men, Gentiles, to new life. This is a part of God’s reconciling all of humanity to Him – a provision so profound that it is sometimes difficult to explain or contemplate. God became one of His own creations so that we would have salvation and not be eternally separated from Him and His love. And it began with this baby that the wise men journeyed to see.
I am forever grateful for the Star and the Manger and the Cross. Together they paint such an amazing picture of unconditional and sacrificial Love.
We all seem to seek to make sense of things that require faith. Faith to follow a star and find the Messiah. Faith in a God who is omniscient and knew before we were even created that we would need a way back to Him. Faith that even though we can’t physically see or mentally understand, He is moving in our lives on a daily basis.
The wise men went on faith in something they didn’t even know about. But they followed and they worshipped.
Will we?
Shea
Very interesting, a good read. My personal insight this season is to question who else saw the star. If it was visible to the shepherds they might have expected something extra ordinary. If it was visible to the people in Bethlehem they would have known where to find Jesus. If it was visible to the leaders and King Herod why did he asked the wise men to find Jesus. I have come to the conclusion this star was visible only to the wise men during the times they needed it. It did not lead them directly to Jesus or they wouldn’t have needed to ask where he was. When the time was right this special star led them directly to the house where Jesus was living. Now, a question, was it actually high in the sky or closer to earth and where did it hide from all the eyes that might have seen it. I need to accept this was a very, very special light/some would call it a star that only the wise men were able to see and knew it was created just for them so they would be able to WORSHIP and adore God in the flesh. Then an angel told them to return home without telling King Herod where they had found Jesus. If King Herod’s magicians could have seen the star they would have followed the wise men to Jesus, but they didn’t so the wonderful star that was leading the wise men was seen only by the wise men till they found Jesus then they went home with out the star.
That reminds me of the Holy Spirit leading each of us, no one can see it but each individual can feel it.