The Star - Thursday, December 31 (Advent 2020)
The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was… on coming to the house, they saw the child was with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Matthew 2:9, 11
God came to us as a baby in the birth of his Son, Jesus. He came into our world within the design God created for physical birth, accompanied by remarkable and supernatural phenomena - virgin birth, choirs of angels, a guiding star.
God used a star to lead the wise men to the Savior. Years ago, as a young woman, over 2000 years after the birth of Jesus Christ, a star led me to the Savior.
It was during a dark night when my life was being threatened by the hands of another person, and I realized I might not survive, that a star lead me to Jesus. Sitting there that night and resigning to my fate, I looked up to my right, and through a small window I saw a star, a big, bright star! When I saw the star, memories of my grandmother telling me Bible stories about Jesus came flooding my mind. They were stories about Jesus who could help you when you are in trouble. That night I cried out to God and said, “God if you are real, can you save me?” He did.
I survived that night, and it was the night I began my journey with Jesus. I am still on this journey with Jesus to this day.
During this Christmas Season, ask God to open your heart to see the many ways He is speaking to you. He is speaking to you through the Christmas story, as well as through your surroundings. He beckons you through his creation. The Psalmist says, “The heavens declare his glory.”
God can still use the stars in the night sky to direct and lead us to Jesus, to remind us of his eternal hope, just like he did over two thousand years ago.
May the light of Jesus guide you in this new year!
Dear Lord, thank you that you are always pursuing us and you do this even through the stars we see in the universe at night. Lord, may I have the wondrous experience of seeing a star this Advent season that reminds me again of your glory and how you really did come to save us through your son on that first Christmas day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.