Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - DON'T MISS CHRISTMAS!!!
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.
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
" '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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
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. 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.
(Matthew 2:1-12)
I've always been fascinated by this part of the story. These Magi, these great wise men, saw the star and grasped its meaning. So they searched for the King. They knew what it symbolized, and they wanted to find the King. They went to Jerusalem and asked where the King had been born, and Herod was disturbed. AND, all Jerusalem was disturbed as well! Why? Had they not been waiting for this moment? Had they not been praying for the Messiah? Had they not studied what the scriptures said? And then, the chief priests and teachers of the law told Herod where the King was suppose to be born, but THEY showed no interest in going to find out if it was true! Surely they had seen the star as well! Surely if Magi from the East had seen the star, all of Jerusalem had seen the star! And Herod was so disturbed by it, he plotted to kill the King! Herod killed many people in his life, and he even dared to try and kill the chosen One of GOD! But God's plan cannot be thwarted by man.
What gets me every time is that these Magi searched, they found Jesus, and they worshipped Him. They worshipped this little toddler because they understood. But the people who had been waiting for the Messiah since the beginning didn't even bother to go and see for themselves. They didn't care.
Don't miss the meaning of Christmas. Don't miss the point. Don't let your pride get in the way like Herod, don't be like the people and shrug it off. Be like the Magi, for God's word says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
Let's seek God this Christmas!
Don't get caught up by the world's holiday. Rejoice in this HOLYday.
Don't miss Christmas.
Danya <><
Comments
Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - Amen!
Posted by FullyAlive
i agree. i admit i have been VERY caught up in getting gifts and getting excited about what IM getting... i almost totally forgot what the true meaning meant! i mean i have been staring at the bright beautful christmas tree with an ANGEL on top and i forgot about what the true meaning meant... maybe the presents below distract me.. i dont no. But yes. that story always makes me think about what EVERYONE had to sacrifice. especially the Wise Men. if Harad ever found them they could die... and to think.. they probably had to live there life in hiding! or at least for a long time. i have to get going but a applaud at ur message. TTYL!
Fullyalive
