At the birth of Christ, a magnificent star appeared in the Eastern sky and three men, who were wise enough to understand the significance of the event, followed that star to Jesus.
These wise men had a brief encounter with the Savior of the world. They gave Him precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh out of the abundance of their treasure chests. Then they went on their way. Back to their normal lives. Never to be seen or heard from again in scripture.
In every nativity scene I've ever seen, the wise men, dressed in magnificent splendor and bearing bright and shiny gifts, command attention. But as I read their story with that of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ, I realized that there is perhaps a wiser man in the nativity scene, hidden behind the flowing garments and grand headdresses of the three wise men.
A man who followed, not a star in the sky, but God, Himself. In quiet relationship. In silent submission. In faith, with faithfulness.
Into marriage with a woman he planned to abandon when he learned she was already with child.
Into Egypt where his people had once lived as slaves.
Into Nazareth where he would raise the king of the Jews in obscurity and humble circumstances.
Everywhere that God led him, Joseph followed.
And though he could not shower gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh,on the Son he raised as his own, Joseph gave everything that he had to offer to God. Not out of abundance but out of a startling lack of abundance.
The three men who followed the star to Jesus and believed in Him were certainly wise, but Joseph who lived his life to follow God was wiser still.
I have a tendency to follow God like the three wise men who came and went with a flash of light in the sky and a sparkle of gold in their hands.
To attend church on Sunday mornings for a brief encounter with the Savior of the world and return to my normal life on Monday morning.
To give of my abundance. Just enough money, so that it doesn't cut into my clothing fund. Just enough time so that I can still get home to watch Castle.
To give God just enough of my life so that I can proudly call myself a follower of Christ......though, truth be told, I rarely follow Him anywhere.
I go where I want to go.
I give what I want to give.
I do what I want to do.
Then when trouble arises in my life, and I need God, I hit my knees and, like a spoiled child, expect Him to have followed me wherever I am. I expect Him to meet me in my pit of sin and extravagance. I expect Him to meet me right where I am.
And He does just that.
He follows me into one mess after another.
He gives grace and mercy out of the sacrifice of blood at Calvary.
Oh, its far too easy for me to be a wise woman of God. To see the Light of heaven and earth shining in the darkness. To recognize the significance of His life, death, and resurrection. To give of my abundance.
To encounter God in my life and then continue on MY way.
But, I wonder what would happen if I committed to following God like Joseph did. In quiet relationship. In silent submission. In faith, with faithfulness.
I wonder what would happen in my life, if I followed God wherever He led me.
Into relationship with people I would rather abandon.
Into an area where my family and I had suffered in our past.
Into a new city or even a new country, where I would have to start over with nothing but the clothes on my back.
I wonder what wonders I would see in my life if I walked God's path instead of my own.
If I refused to settle for being wise.
If I determined in my heart to become wiser still -- to listen for God's voice and obey it for a change.
If I sought to live my life like Joseph did his.
With eyes locked on Jesus -- the bright and morning star -- following wherever God would lead me today. Tomorrow. The next day. To Nazareth. To Egypt. To the sick. To the lost. To the brokenhearted.
To the blessings that I believe God desperately wants to share with me on the path ahead if only I would learn to follow.
Perhaps like Joseph, I would see Jesus, not once in my life, not every Sunday, but every single day for the rest of my life.
Teach me Lord to follow You.
To walk by your gift of faith.
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