"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
Every year at this time we get a refresher course on the story of Jesus' birth. We pull out the Bible and read the story of the nativity and learn all the main characters. As a child my knowledge of the magi was limited at best. They were simply wise men from a far away land that brought expensive gifts (only one of which I could pronounce).
These foreigners who had no direct connection to the Israelites recognized the significance of a special star in the sky. They knew their stuff. And when that star appeared they knew exactly what it meant. They knew the promised king to the Jewish people had been born (or was about to be born) and they set off to worship to Him.
The sad thing is this story is that the Jewish people, themselves, would not have even noticed had the magi not shown up on Herod's doorstep. Herod gathered his own "wise men" who then had to go look the matter up in the archives. How embarrassing is that? Strangers from a distant land had to tell them their savior had been born.
Encouragement for the week: Yes - the Jewish people were caught unaware but what about us today? Do we know our stuff? If the Holy Spirit acts, do we know it? If something goes against what the Bible teaches, will we catch it? Do we go through life unaware of God's teaching and His plan? Let's make sure we don't let the world put us to shame. Let's know our stuff. We don't want to miss out on something big.
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