Hanging on to a Story

As 2015 comes to an end, and we move beyond Christmas celebrations, I want to linger with you just one more moment on a Christmas story that I hope will shape my 2016 and perhaps your year as well.

During the month of December, I returned again and again to this story.

After they [the Magi] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose 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, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:9-11)

These Magi didn’t claim to seek the Jewish Messiah. They were, in fact, Gentiles. They fancied themselves intelligent men who studied stars—much like astrologers. Their curiosity sent them on a hunt. Something about finding a king. So they traveled from their eastern country to Jerusalem and started asking questions there, trying to get the full story.

It all started with a star. The Magi saw it in their home country and thought they knew what it meant: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)

You know the rest of the story, I’m sure. The Magi followed the star and arrived in a humble stable to find Jesus—not a king, but a savior.

God, with his way of grace, sent these men a beacon to lead them to Jesus. They weren’t looking for Jesus. I’m sure they didn’t think they needed a savior, and I would guess they probably felt fairly competent in their own abilities.

But God sent a star. He could have sent them a host of angels. A prophet. He choose a star. Why?

I believe God sent the Magi a star because He knew they cared deeply about stars, and He knew they spent much of their time staring at them. They might have dismissed a prophet’s words or tuned out a host of angels. But a star? They wouldn’t miss a star.

So why do I cling to this story moving into 2016?

It reminds me that God wants to communicate with people. He wants to make Himself known. His methods today are just as creative as sending a star to a small group of Magi centuries ago. I’m sure many of you could tell stories.

I can’t wait to see how God reveals Himself in 2016.