AN IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE
Matthew 2:4-10 NKJV
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
I think it’s a bit humorous to be reading the Christmas story in July. Not to burst any bubbles, but historians do not believe Jesus was born in December. And speaking of sacred cows, it does not appear that the three wise men showed up on Christmas night when Jesus was born. But it sure looks good on a Christmas card.
In our verses for today, we find the wise men arriving in Jerusalem asking about where the Messiah was born. They had seen His star in the East and had come to worship and bring gifts. These travelers evidently lost sight of the star, and so they show up in the capital city thinking surely a king would reside there.
Herod, the king of Judea, was troubled to think that the long-awaited Jewish Messiah was born on his watch. In his thinking, this Messiah would challenge his power and ruin the control he enjoyed. So Herod was also quite interested in knowing where this king of the Jews was born. What is very interesting is that Herod consulted with the scribes as to what the Scriptures said about the birth of the Christ. After consulting with the biblical scholars, they referenced a Scripture from the prophet Micah embedded in the rather short book. And based on one Scripture, Herod directed the wise men to Bethlehem. And they went.
Acting on a scripture reference hundreds of years old, the three wise men left for Bethlehem. As they went, they once again saw the star that led them directly to the house, not manger, where Jesus now a young child was living. It’s clear that the star had reappeared because verse ten tells us the wise men rejoiced with great joy when they saw the star.
APPLICATION
So, here is the spiritual principle still in effect today. We continue to act on the Scriptures that are now thousands of years old. The Scriptures are inspired by God, and even though many years have passed, spiritual truth does not age. So, we continue to look to God’s Word for our first place of guidance and direction. We still act on God’s Word without any other evidence verifying its legitimacy and truth. We still act on God’s Word without having to have corresponding feelings. We act because we believe. And, then, we see. So we take steps of faith, believing first and then seeing the evidence. The wise men acted on God’s Word and then saw the star. The nation of Israel put their feet in the Jordan, and then it stopped, and they were able to pass. Abraham called himself the father of many nations, and then Issac was born. Jehoshaphat and the people praised God and then saw the enemy armies defeated.
We act on God’s Word before we see. It worked for the wise men then. It works for the wise today!
PRAYER
Thank You, Father, for your word. Your word is settled in heaven and settled in my life. I am willing to act before I see.