Men from a far away land in the East. Men who had been hoping all their lives. Men who had not given up searching, and had become old in the process. Wise men.
These wise men understood the patterns of the stars and they knew the prophecies of old – strong words foretelling the birth of a Saviour, spoken hundreds of years before. The passing of time had not weakened their search, disappointment had not diminished their conviction, age had not extinguished the flames of faith.
The cry from the heart of God, echoes across time, and down the years, a call and an invitation to all mankind, ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’. (Jer 29:19)
These wise men were expecting the Messiah – they probably did not know when or how or where, but they knew that one day, He would come. That night they saw an unusual light in the sky. That was all they needed – like a nudge, a wink, a finger beckoning. I marvel at their response, at the desire burning within them to encounter the coming King, at their leaning in towards the greater light that had come into the world.
Will we seek to meet God today in the humdrum of our lives? Will we seek Him because we are expectantly waiting for Him – are we ready for Him to show us something of Himself at any time, at any moment, in any way?
In choosing to believe in something bigger and greater and more glorious that anything they had yet experienced, the Magi had positioned themselves for an encounter with the King of Kings. In faith, they had watched as the star rose high in the sky, in faith they had chosen gifts, in faith they had travelled over 1000 miles, in faith they knelt and worshipped a baby boy.
We have already met Jesus and yet, in hoping for prayer to be answered, in the longing for situations to change, desperate for breakthrough, for many of us the waiting has dulled and wearied and blurred our faith – for some, the intentional searching ceased a long time ago, and we consider now, perhaps, that there is no hope, or is there?
The light that hung in that dark sky 2000 years ago still invites us to lean in towards Christ, in faith – a sign still, for those who have eyes to see, and ears to hear the small sweet whisper, ‘nothing is impossible for him who believes’. Mark 11:23
Thanks to Lucas Santos @_staticvoid for making this photo available freely on Unsplash.
4 comments
I believe when we do not have the answer to our prayers: (For me is for my family who are not Christians be saved, and that my book: “By the Living Word I Shall Prevail” will get distributed., for my stamina to increase such that I can, once again pass out Gospel tracts that I have penned door to door.)
With our waiting we can keep worshiping God and enjoying His presence. (to me is to have a Christian song to sing during my unoccupied thought time.)
I think to worship Him is: As Derek Prince has penned, that our destination is to do it. So there is no need for us to seek
other goals. For when we worship the Holy Spirit can tell us what we need to do.
This happened to me yesterday for my motto is to obey Psalm 71 v 21: “May You increase my greatness and surround to comfort me.”
As I kept the word: “greatness” on my mind I got the idea to return to get my book printed: “God is Good.” So, as I work on it I can rejoice about God’s greatness in my life. I wrote it 3 yrs ago but did not get it printed because I did not have funds to get it done. Now I have the faith if God wants me to do it I can afford to get it done. So, I have waited all this time to begin again. to get it published..
With a part of my devotion at lunch I read Psalm 27 v 14: “Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart.” My “Spirit Filled NJKV Bible’s comment: “wait in faith.”
The Amplified: “Wait in hope for and expect the Lord: be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, Wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.
I just now: 1:00 PM to check Isaiah in the Amplified. I will write it because it tells what to expect from God.
“But those who wait for the Lord : (Who expect, look for, and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power…They shall mount up as eagles (close to God) as eagles that can fly higher than any other bird.They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint or become tired.” See Hebrews ch 12 vs 1-3: which is
my comment: “We are surrounded by those who have born testimony to the Truth =Hebrews 11. Remove every unnecessary thing. and confess & repent any sin that the devil has cleverly entangles us.with. Then move with patience
our lives : Looking to Jesus who is our Leader and source of our faith.(giving us the first that caused us to believe.in Him. He is the Finisher of our faith who is our example for us to mature in our faith..For He also is our example to endure and bear our cross. with joy..( I believe His joy came in the garden when He said: ‘Not My will but Thine.’
This is due to His doing what He said over and over: :’I am here on earth to do My Father;s will.’
I have just in my hospital time had tribulations where I had joy in worship obeying Romans 5 vs 2-5..for the first rime after being a devout Christian for 30 yrs.
Isaiah 40 v 31. I should have explained about being devout:. For the 1st time 66 yrs. Since I’;ve had a fresh Holy Spirit encounter which increased my faith, It was about 30 yrs ago when I began to teach Romans 5 vs 2-5. But, till now to experience joy in my tribulations.