Christmas reveals the value of scripture …

It’s almost impossible to overstate the impact of the the Word of God on our lives. Believe it or not, that’s a lesson that is demonstrated for us in the Christmas story.

Enter the magi …

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him,” Matthew 2:1-2.

While Israel seemed to be asleep at the spiritual wheel, strangers from a far-off land were apparently more alert to the teaching of scripture. Long ago, they had been taught about God, and knew of the prophecy of a king that would come to save all humanity.

One of the most likely possibilities for this is when Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taken captive to Babylon. While the initial plan was to re-educate these young men to a new way of thinking, the opposite would happen. Their faithfulness to God would radically influence their captors and bring attention to the power and worship of their God.

It was by studying the teachings they had learned that these magi had insight to what was going on when they saw the star arise over Bethlehem. Trusting the Word of God they had been taught, they responded to it by traversing a rugged terrain to come worship this new king.

When we look into the Word of God, and believe it, the response it will generate in our lives is a willingness to do whatever it takes to acknowledge and worship Christ the King.

God’s Word is given to us to both believe AND act upon, always leading us to Jesus. What a great reminder from Christmas!

This Christmas, are you a contemporary version of the magi, following God’s Word to acknowledge and worship Jesus Christ? Or are you like ancient Israel, well-educated in scripture but blind and deaf to it?

Scotty