When They Saw The Star

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Matthew 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called
the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8

And he sent them to Bethlehem,
and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him,
bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they
had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the
east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

We get so familiar with the Christmas story that we let some
of it pass us by. It deserves special attention each year. We can learn
something new. We always hear it in this context. The wise men came to Jerusalem to find out where the King had been born.
In fact, the wise men were asking around. When Herod heard of it he
privately called the wise men to come visit him.

The wickedness of Herod is
well known. He killed people in his own family when they went against him. He would not tolerate anyone who could possibly take his throne. He
wanted to ask the wise men what was going on. Who is this King? In his mind he
must have already been thinking and plotting evil. The wise
men knew Herod meant no good. The more they listened, the more disturbed
they became. Herod wanted to use the
wise men, and they knew it. After traveling so far they were intercepted by the
worst person they could meet. What was going through their minds?

It doesn’t
matter what Herod’s or how many are placed in our way, God is still here. 2008
was a record year; predictors say 2009 will be even worse. What’s on the
horizon? Just like the wise men a Herod lies before us. When those wise men
left the palace and stepped onto the porch, how down they must have felt. Before them was the darkest of nights. Then, they looked up and saw the star. It had been patiently waiting for them while they were in that terrible palace. It had stuck with them, determined not to leave them. The star that had led them thus far would
lead them on past Herod. The star went before them; they didn’t lead it. Jesus
goes before us. Let him lead. This star outsmarted Herod's spies and kept going
before them and took them right to Jesus and it stopped. Shining down, it silently spoke to them that here their King was.

The devil may smack us
right in the face, try to terrorize us and bring us down, but the STAR still
shines. It illuminates us. Remember
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He liveth and was dead but is
alive forever more.

It was the darkest time in history for Jesus to appear. In
our darkest times Jesus is here. The King is still King. This Jesus we can
trust forever. The devil is not dead, but he is as good as dead because Jesus, the King,

is alive and still rules.

Jesus came in
a most unlikely way. A poor girl was the mother. They were to
call his name Jesus for he would save his people from their sins. In the
darkness of our night we may cry; we may get down; we may feel defeated BUT THE
STAR STILL SHINES. HE LEADS US ON. Sometimes it's not the earthquake or the
wind, it’s a still small voice in the night—the voice of a baby. The STAR still
shines and nothing is impossible. Never give up. Heaven is there, and we have a
reason to live.

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