Born in a Barn: Jesus’ Messy Mission — Thursday
Matthew 2:9
...they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star… (NRSV)
I’ve always been intrigued by the role of the star in the Magi’s quest to find Jesus, yet no one knows exactly what it was. Some say it was a comet, but the position of a comet changes as the earth rotates. Stars move, too, in groups—they don't sit still in the sky.
Some say the star was an astrological interpretation of the sky; others say it was an alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, the moon, and the sun in the constellation of Aries on April 17 of 6 BC (which was visible for weeks or months). Since no one really knows, I’ll share my view: The star was a divinely-created shaft of light that somehow gave reliable and specific guidance to the wise men. In short, it was a miracle in a litany of miracles that surrounded the birth of Jesus.
Perhaps anyone could’ve followed the star, but only the Magi from the east had the acuity to be led by it. Guess what? If you are willing to follow God every day of your life, He’ll lead you, too. The road won’t always be easy, but He will lead you if you’re willing to follow.
E. Stanley Jones tells of a missionary who got lost in an African jungle—nothing around him but bush and a few cleared places. He found a native hut and asked the native if he could lead him out. The native said he could. “All right,” said the missionary. “Show me the way.” The native said, “Follow me.” They walked and hacked their way through unmarked jungle for more than an hour. The missionary got worried. “Are you sure this is the way? Where’s the path?” The native said, “Sir, in this place, there is no path. I am the path.”
Sometimes the path is unclear in our lives, too. The best thing to do is wait for the One who is the path to come and order your steps. Believe me—He wants to lead us more than we want to follow.
Thursday’s Reflection
Perhaps you’re reading this now and thinking, “I don’t merit the guidance of God; I’m not certain that He loves me or that I’m even saved.” Don’t sell yourself short; you’re never as lost as you might think you are. The true Star, the Lord Jesus, will get you all the way Home. It’s His work, not yours, and He’s excellent at delivering results. I like to say, “He always pays for what He orders.” Don’t you think it’s time to believe that?
