For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Thought for Today
Next on God’s checklist was to set the star in the sky that would draw representatives of the nations to the birth of His Son. Before you Christmas purists get upset, I know they weren’t there on the night Jesus was born, but they needed to get moving. They had a long journey ahead of them. This is one of the most important events for us, for this is where all of the non-Jews enter the story of redemption in Christ. God had declared that Jesus would be the Savior of the whole world. The arrival and worship of the Magi make this declaration a tangible reality. Therefore, drawn by the light of His love, like the Magi before us, we prepare to worship the new born King.
Prayer
Lord of All, thank You for the star that led the Magi to Your Son and demonstrated that I, too, am covered by His love. Amen.
Devotional Quote
These [magi] from the east had come to Palestine with but one purpose: to find the One born King of the Jews and worship Him. That truth in itself shows that they were true seekers after God, because when He spoke to them, in whatever way it was, they heard and responded. — John MacArthur
Quote of the Day
He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ― Roy L. Smith
Countdown to Christmas: Hang the Star
Isaiah 60:2-3
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Thought for Today
Next on God’s checklist was to set the star in the sky that would draw representatives of the nations to the birth of His Son. Before you Christmas purists get upset, I know they weren’t there on the night Jesus was born, but they needed to get moving. They had a long journey ahead of them. This is one of the most important events for us, for this is where all of the non-Jews enter the story of redemption in Christ. God had declared that Jesus would be the Savior of the whole world. The arrival and worship of the Magi make this declaration a tangible reality. Therefore, drawn by the light of His love, like the Magi before us, we prepare to worship the new born King.
Prayer
Lord of All, thank You for the star that led the Magi to Your Son and demonstrated that I, too, am covered by His love. Amen.
Devotional Quote
These [magi] from the east had come to Palestine with but one purpose: to find the One born King of the Jews and worship Him. That truth in itself shows that they were true seekers after God, because when He spoke to them, in whatever way it was, they heard and responded. — John MacArthur
Quote of the Day
He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ― Roy L. Smith