"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2: 1-1
God doesn't leave us with no means for faith. He always hangs a star!
Have you ever been in a place where you felt so far from God. Seemed like forever since you last really "tasted and seen that God is good." We can feel that way when our lives circumstance seem to turn for the worst. Our sin can often place us in that same place of distance from God's presence. I remember being in college and feeling this deeply. I was studying for ministry but having no sense of God in my life. It rose to the level of desperation only to be met by disappointment when is seemed like God had abandoned me.
The Magi were from the far east. They were not close to Jerusalem. They were distant from it, yet God hung a star. To the Magi it would have been the perfect way to get their attention. They were stargazers and thus were always looking to the starts. But, they were not Jews. They were not of God's chosen people, yet he hung a star for them to see.
The truth is that God is always hanging stars to announce his presence. When we are literally far away as the Magi were or our hearts are, he hangs stars. It is knowing where to look for them that becomes key. The Magi were always looking up. Are we. In that season of life in college I realized I had been looking down not up. Looking down is focused only on the next step and fretting if there will be solid ground when you place your next foot forward. It is a real place to be. There are seasons of life that come to us all that feels like were walking a tight rope with danger lurking on both sides. Desperate to not fall our eyes stay locked on the rope of our circumstances praying for some sort of balance that allows us to take the next step.
What is most impressive to me is not the tightrope walkers but the tight rope walkers who do it blindfold. Now that is daring. So is faith. It is super daring. An ability to walk the tightrope of life with our eyes not down but instead up to the stars. It is the scripture that says, "Since we live by the spirit let us keep in step with the spirit." Faith is trusting the spirit to the stepping with a focus on the stars.
Here is the promise of God. If you trust your stepping to the Spirit and look up, he will always have hung a star as evidence of his presence. God doesn't leave us with no means for faith. He always hangs a star!
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