Here we are almost to Christmas day. How are you doing with maintaining the peace and the joy of the season?
Frankly, the last several days have been hectic, too much to do and not enough hours in the day. I noticed a weariness creeping in. In fact, two days ago I asked the Lord if it was ok to sleep in. I knew He wouldn’t mind. So, I’ve slept until 4:30 and 5:00 respectively. It was good rest.
I wonder if the wise men who came from the East were weary from their travels.
They had no GPS or Rand-McNally Atlas to guide them. They were led by a star. They didn’t come to the stable and find a baby. Their entourage had traveled a great distance, and some believe it could have taken a year or two to arrive.
“ Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the time when Herod was king. After Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. 2 They asked people, “Where is the child who has been born to be the king of the Jews? We saw the star that shows he was born. We saw it rise in the sky in the east and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 ERV
These men were on a mission. They came to worship the King.
“After the wise men heard the king, they left. They saw the same star they had seen in the east, and they followed it. The star went before them until it stopped above the place where the child was. 10 They were very happy and excited to see the star.
11 The wise men came to the house where the child was with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened the boxes of gifts they had brought for him. They gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home to their own country a different way.” Matthew 2:9-12 ERV
Can you imagine how that must have occurred? Mary was home, going about her daily duties. Taking care of the small child, Jesus, possibly preparing a meal for Joseph who would soon be arriving home from work. She hears a commotion out in the street and then a knock at the door. There before her is a caravan and regally dressed men asking about her child.
They entered her home and bowed before her Son, worshipping Him and presenting Him with gifts. It certainly would have caused no small stir in the neighborhood.
Are we as persistent in our search of Jesus as these men from the East? Each day they had one purpose – follow the star. Find the Messiah.
A song was recorded by Sandi Patty in the early 1970’s. The lyrics of the chorus are:
“Come let us worship the King
Jesus the Savior is born
For the Lord will reign over all the earth
Come let us worship the King
Jesus the Savior is born
For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised
Through all the earth
Let us worship the King”
We have this promise from the prophet Jeremiah:
“You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. ” Jeremiah 29:13 ERV
The best way I know to combat weariness, discouragement and frustration is to search for and worship the King.
“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 ERV
A true sign of a wise man or woman is to search for the King!