November 28 was the first Sunday of Advent, the liturgical season when we anticipate the arrival of Christ. We’ll have one or two entries each week until Christmas that focus on themes of the Advent Season.
Today’s scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Mark Shoup):
When I was a kid, I attended a planetarium show at the Dayton Museum of Natural History. It must have been around Christmas time, as the program was all about explaining what the Star of Bethlehem really was. Several suggestions were given, from the star being a comet (which was a compelling theory), to it being a supernova only visible for a few months. I am always fascinated when science is used to prove or explain the things written in the Bible, and enjoyed the show very much.
We will probably never know definitively what the Star of Bethlehem really was, at least until we can ask the Creator in person, but it really doesn’t matter. For all we know it might have been a seagull that suffered spontaneous combustion, but it did what it was supposed to do, which was to herald the birth of our Savior and to guide the wise men to him. That’s what is important.
I think we still have “Stars of Bethlehem” in our own lives, even to this day. We each have things that draw us to Jesus, help us find him, and guide us back when we lose our way. For me, it is small group worship and my personal quiet time. For others, it might be partaking in communion, reading the Bible, meditation, music, or something else. Like the original star, it doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you follow it and allow it to bring you closer to Christ.
Thought for the day: What is my star? Am I following or engaging in what draws me to Jesus?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.