Seeking Hope, Finding Jesus
Following the Wise Men's Lead
As the flying scraps of gift-wrapping begin to settle and the seasonal hustle and bustle calms to a breathable pace, I allow myself a few moments to sit, reflect, and savor the recent festivities. Last night as I was heading off to bed, first stopping to unplug the Christmas tree lights, the lure of quiet and solitude whispered my name and beckoned me to sit for a spell.
As I plopped myself down on the couch, I recalled the abundant celebrations that had only just passed in this most joyous of seasons; a season punctuated with parties, gifts, decorations, and lights, with gatherings and reunions of family and friends; a season rich with the sounds of laughter and chatter, and the taste of indulgent goodies galore. Sitting here in quiet contemplation, my gaze wanders over the beautifully decorated tree before me, and as my eyes pause on each ornament, memories come to mind. A newly received ornament catches my full attention as it rests on the branches at the center of the tree. Within its beautiful rectangular shaped glass with gilded silver edges is a picture highlighting the journey of the Three Wise Men. These men of the Bible had heard the promises of God and believed them to be true. They clung to the hope that God would provide a Savior, that God would send a King unlike any other—a King of truth, justice, love, mercy, holiness, peace, and perfection.
The wise men knew to be on the lookout for the heavenly sign of a special, God-designated star which would lead them to a place of hope fulfilled. Believing the promises of God, the men traveled from a far-off country, following the star until it came to rest above the house where their long-awaited Savior resided. They brought gifts of great worth—gold, frankincense, and myrrh— in worship of this highly-anticipated Newborn King.
Even now all signs and arrows point the way to Jesus, if only our hearts will follow. Jesus is the One in whom all our hope is fulfilled. And when we find Him, we too offer Him our best gift. We surrender all we have—our hearts, our lives, our worship, our praise—laying them at His feet.
Finding Jesus is our hope fulfilled.
Matthew 2:1-12, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 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.’
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.5 ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the Child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’
9 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. 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.12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”
What would you like to lay before the King as an offering this year?
(an excerpt from my book, “Promise and Possibilities: Hope-Filled Devotions”)
