JESUS, THE STAR AND GIFTS

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they PRESENTED GIFTS TO HIM; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh – Matthew 2:11 NKJV

The Christmas story is quite a story: a story of a star in the East, wise men from the East, a troubled and deceitful Herod, priests and scribes who knew the books, but lacked the sense of times and seasons, and of precious gifts that were meant only for dignitary and royalty. Full of exciting characters and interesting imageries, we may learn few lessons from this story:

First, God will override the natural systems if need be, to provide the help you need: the STAR guided them to where the young child should be born. There had never been anything like this in the history of the solar system. God moved a star like we move a pawn in a chess game, because He ‘works all things according to the counsel of His will’ (Eph.1:11). When they finally located the baby Jesus and Mary His mother, they “fell down and worshipped Him…presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.’ There isn’t a miracle God cannot work in order to fulfil His plan and purpose in your life.

Second, God may use channels or people you never knew to bless you. The wise men were neither devout Jews nor devoted Christians. They were actually Persian stargazers. Lesson: be wary of being extremely selective, or, you may end up ‘tying God’s hands’. Open your heart in submission to God and you’ll start seeing Him reaching out to you through the most surprising quarters.

Third, God will take care of your tomorrows, right from today. Joseph and Mary didn’t know that they would have to leave home and flee to Egypt. But He who Himself is the Gift, made provisions ahead for what they’ll live on – through the gifts from the wise men – gold, frankincense and myrrh – gifts that only the rich could give. When you’re in the Will of God, He will surely provide for you. The Lord will do it, either through your diligence or the generosity of others, or both ways.

There is no reason for you to worry and fret, trying to figure out how to make ends meet. God located His Son by the miracle of the Star, for the miracle of the gifts, to make Him the Miracle to the world. He can do the same for you. The Psalmist said, ‘I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread’ (Psa.37:25).