Shining as the Star
Lights That Shine in the Dark Illuminating the Way
SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 2:2 NKJV - … "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
OBSERVATION:
Contrary to popular belief, the Wise Men, or Three Kings, were not present with the shepherds on the night Jesus was born. Instead, they arrived six months to a year afterward. What guided them? It was a star!
The Shepherds came immediately when called, and the Wise Men came seeking. Not much has changed today. Many are seeking, even in the wrong direction. They came to Jerusalem, but he was in Bethlehem. God can use our wrong paths to lead us to Himself.
These astrologers looked to the stars as a form of religion, but in their search, they found the Morning Star—the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:78 NKJV - Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
Revelation 22:16 NKJV - "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
Not much has changed; people still look to the stars for their future and fortune. But the stars tell of Him who came.
Amos 5:8 NKJV - He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning And makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth; The LORD is His name.
APPLICATION:
In Matthew chapter 2, the star is mentioned three times.
Matthew 2:2 NKJV - … "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
OBSERVATION:
Contrary to popular belief, the Wise Men, or Three Kings, were not present with the shepherds on the night Jesus was born. Instead, they arrived six months to a year afterward. What guided them? It was a star!
The Shepherds came immediately when called, and the Wise Men came seeking. Not much has changed today. Many are seeking, even in the wrong direction. They came to Jerusalem, but he was in Bethlehem. God can use our wrong paths to lead us to Himself.
These astrologers looked to the stars as a form of religion, but in their search, they found the Morning Star—the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:78 NKJV - Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
Revelation 22:16 NKJV - "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
Not much has changed; people still look to the stars for their future and fortune. But the stars tell of Him who came.
Amos 5:8 NKJV - He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning And makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth; The LORD is His name.
APPLICATION:
In Matthew chapter 2, the star is mentioned three times.
- The Wise Men observe it in the sky (vs 2).
- The Wise Men ask Herod about it (vs 7).
- The Wise Men follow it until it leads them to Jesus (vs 9-10).
“The star was Christ’s star itself, but it also led others to Christ. It did this very much because it moved in that direction. It is a sad thing when a preacher is like a sign-post pointing the way but never following it, on his own account. Such were those chief priests at Jerusalem: they could tell where Christ was born, but they never went to worship him; they were indifferent altogether to him and to his birth.” – Charles Spurgeon.
We should be shining stars that guide others toward Christ. Some may be straying or lost in false religion and deception, but we have the opportunity to lead them to Christ, much like the wise men did.
Philippians 2:14-15 NKJV - (14) Do all things without complaining and disputing, (15) that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Become the shining star in the darkness that guides others to Jesus!
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, that You are the Morning Star and the Light of the World, bringing life to all mankind. May I be a star that shines brightly, leading the lost in the right direction—toward Jesus, the King of the Jews! The Messiah, the Savior of the world!
Philippians 2:14-15 NKJV - (14) Do all things without complaining and disputing, (15) that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Become the shining star in the darkness that guides others to Jesus!
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, that You are the Morning Star and the Light of the World, bringing life to all mankind. May I be a star that shines brightly, leading the lost in the right direction—toward Jesus, the King of the Jews! The Messiah, the Savior of the world!
Shine! Let our lives glorify God, so that everyone can see and acknowledge Him as Lord.
Posted in Matthew