The Christmas Star

 I love to look at Christmas decorations, especially the Nativity.  I spoke with my husband about a manger scene for our yard.  My husband surprised me with one he built himself.  I bought a baby doll, wrapped it in purple fabric, and layed it inside the manger.  Our baby Jesus could be seen during the day, but not at night.  We added lights on the manger the next evening, and walked to the front of our yard to make sure it could be seen.  We prayed our little  handmade Nativity would stir someone's heart  as they drove by who needed the real message of Christmas.

 I looked at the manger and felt something had been missing.  It needed a star.  I shopped around at different stores to find the right one.  I found a star with a lovely incandescence, which could be seen from every angle. I was excited to see how it shined in the dark.  What a difference the star made!  It illuminated a beautiful glow, but what moved me was how much attention  it drew to the manger scene. 



Matthew 2:1-13:  The Magi Were Lead By The Star

I read the Christmas story in the second chapter of Matthew, and became aware of the significance the star played.  The star was leading the Magi to Jesus.  "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 in the east and have come to worship him."  King Herod heard and wanted to find out more about where Christ was to be born.  "Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He asked the Magi to report back to him, because he wanted to go and worship Christ.  "After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  The star became a beacon for the newborn King.  Darkness was dispelled, the Light of the World had finally arrived! 


The Savior Of The World

I imagined what it must have felt to see the newborn child.  I would  have rejoiced just like the angels did on that glorious night.  "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 and of incense and of myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."   The prophesy spoken by the prophet over 800 years ago in Isaiah 9 had been fulfilled.


My Prayer:

Thank you God for your son Jesus who came to save us from our sins.  We are called to be a light for God.  Jesus said in Matthew 5, "You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven."  Lord make me a beacon to lead others to you.  May we shine brightly like the star on the night you were born.  Have a blessed Christmas. 

In The Face Of A Babe

The following devotional is written by my paster, Dr. James Thrower.  I thank you for reminding us God gave the perfect gift.

We recently enjoyed the blessing of the birth of our fourth grandchild.  As we held her in our arms we marveled at the miracle God had performed.  We laughed, counted toes and fingers, wept at the sheer miracle of life.

In some ways what we did may have been similar to what Mary and Joseph did on the night Jesus was born, but when I reflect on this most miraculous of births I am overwhelmed to think of what Mary and Joseph must have seen as they gazed into the face of this one who's birth had been "promised and then heralded by Angels, attended by Wisemen, and proclaimed to all who would hear by Shepherds." They were told their son had come to be the "Savior" of all mankind.  The sheer magnitude of what they must have felt is captured by Luke who tells us Mary "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (v.19)

As you journey through this Advent Season I pray you will pause to "ponder in your heart" Christmas' greatest gift.  Remember, He came first "to save his people from their sins."


Today's Scripture Reading:  Luke 2:1-19


Dr. James Thrower
West Columbia Central
Church of the Nazarene