Messengers Part Three: December 23, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23

MESSENGERS
PART THREE

Defined by Webster:
One who bears a message.

It will only be two days now before we CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS on Christmas morning. Today we will share with you several thoughts about the significance of the Star and the Angels.


GODS WORD

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘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.’” Matthew 2:1-2.

WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE

Every Christmas we hang a lit star on the front of our house. It hangs brightly over the nativity scene sitting on the grass of our front yard. When we drive around our community we look for other houses with stars and the nativity scene and can find very few. We see Santa in his sleigh, ornaments hanging from the trees, lights all around the homes, animals all lit up on the lawn and lights outlining the walks from the street to the door. But to us the star and the manger scene are all about Christmas and we want the world to know that on Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Unfortunately, each year we see less and less Christmas decorations about Jesus and see more and more people celebrating Christmas as just another holiday where they can eat heavily, watch a football game and just lay around the house. People today here in America do not even wish others a “MERRY CHRISTMAS,” they just say “Happy Holidays.”

The STAR that was seen that first Christmas was very unique. God provided that star for the world to know that there was a special birth and the location was under the star in Bethlehem. Never again has that star appeared nor was there ever one just like it.

We are told by Matthew (above verse) that the wise men followed that star to worship the baby. We do not know much about the wise men who were also called Magi. The Bible only states that they came from the east and many think that it was Persia. They were scientists and men in high positions. They were wealthy and brought costly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They came seeking out the “one who was born King of the Jews” to worship Him. They were overjoyed when they found Jesus and the scripture says that they “bowed down and worshipped Him” as King and gave Him gifts worthy of a King.

“WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM.” Perhaps you have seen this saying on bumper stickers or elsewhere. These wise men traveled many miles to seek Jesus but sadly today few people are willing to go even a few miles to the nearest church to worship Jesus. Do you still seek Him? Are you like the wise men that were filled with joy when they found Him.

The scriptures say that angels by the thousands followed the one angel that announced the birth to the shepherds: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying --- GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN.”

The angels left and the star soon disappeared and Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem. What a wonderful honor it would have been to be one of those shepherds who heard the angels and then went to the place where our Messiah was born, or one of the wise men who saw the star and came to worship the King. The CELEBRATION DAY IS COMING. GET PREPARED!

REMEMBER THIS WEEKS MEMORY VERSE.

“GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL,
TOWARD MEN.” LUKE 2:14

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

Thank You dear God that we worship a true and living God. Thank You for the excitement we are feeling about the CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTHDAY OF JESUS on this coming Christmas day. Prepare the hearts of my family for a special touch from You this Christmas. May the joy of Christmas fill my heart and the hearts of my family so that we will celebrate Christmas in a most meaningful way.