Christmas: A Story of God's Guiding Light
Photo image courtesy of Nicole O'Meara
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
– Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV)
My family lives across three states, yet one night recently, we all saw the same thing at the same time.
It began when my brother, who lives in north Idaho, called to say, "Go outside and look at the sky." Then the photos started coming, blowing up the family text thread.
Thanks to a rare solar flare, the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, could be seen as far south as my home in northern California.
Naturally, I called my son, who lives in Wisconsin. Soon, his photos popped up in the family text thread. They were breathtaking. Mesmerizing. Captivating. I couldn’t help but praise God. The same God who threw the stars into the sky made these lights dance on the horizon. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands," Psalm 19:1 says. I wholeheartedly joined the chorus of praise.
The Northern Lights made me wonder about the star the Wise Men followed in Matthew 2. "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him," (Matthew 2:2, NIV).
The Wise Men saw something in the sky, something that captivated them enough to pack their bags and head out on a dangerous journey. Dangerous in that they didn’t know where it would end.
Would you have done that? Would you have left home, family, and the known world without knowing how long it would take or where you would end up? That’s a big decision! A big decision made on the basis of one compelling star.
What must that star have looked like?!
There have been times in my life when God has placed a compelling star in my life, a calling, you could say. Adopting two children from Africa stands out in my mind as a star. The call to adopt had such a strong pull on us that we began that long journey without a clue as to where it would take us. When we began, we had no idea it would take us to the dusty streets of Ethiopia. Or that it would take us to countless counseling appointments. Or that it would take us to our knees, hours on end in prayer. But that’s where God directed us.
Our star took us on a journey that, like the Wise Men, keeps us dependent on God. Along the way, we have cried tears of joy and tears of sorrow. But we have never doubted that we’ve been guided by God’s light.
Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." When I think of the Wise Men following the star, I think of the star lighting their path in the direction God wanted them to go.
God will use anything to move his people where He wants them to go.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Where has a star taken you?
2. Where might God be guiding you this Christmas? What next step on the path are you going to make, trusting God will continue to guide you all the way to your destination?
