During the Christmas season, much focus is placed on the various members of the nativity. And so it should be. Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, even the innkeeper who turned the young couple away. But what about the wise men? True, they didn't show up at the manger scene along with the others. Jesus was probably about a year old at the time of their visit to the young family's house. But they were significant enough to be mentioned in Matthew 2, and should be considered as examples for us to follow.


Here's the synopsis of what happened:

"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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born . . .Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way."

What were the true gifts of these magi from the East? Not just gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but so much more. They essentially gave themselves to the Baby. Consider these points:

1. They were Gentiles seeking a Jewish king. In those days, most Gentiles were scorned by the Jewish peoples as "dogs" or "barbarians." These men who were used to receiving respect and obeisance risked facing degradation and ridicule by those whom they sought. They gave up their "right" to be honored for the sake of finding a baby.

2. They were men of great knowledge. The magi were great scholars, learned men who had an extensive knowledge of not just the Scriptures, but all the major writings of their time. But all that knowledge could not show them where to find their Saviour. They gave up the pride of their knowledge when they admitted their ignorance and accepted the help of others on their mission.

3. They were men of great wealth. These men were respected not just for their knowledge and power but also for the great riches which they possessed. They did not know the final outcome of their quest, but they knew they must find this baby - and they were willing to risk losing all their wealth to do so. They didn't know whether they would be able to return to their homes and riches after finding the baby. They essentially gave up the privileges of their wealth when they chose to seek the home of the Saviour.

4. They were men of great influence. Who was more influential in those days then the ones who held great wealth and knowledge? They were the leaders of their cities, the great "somebody's" of their time. They gave up the chance to continue that influence when they left their hometowns to seek the child.

Truly, the wise men's gifts went far beyond the materials they laid before the baby. They gave of themselves when they chose to seek Him who could save their souls. It is true what is stated by the apostle Paul, that not many wise are chosen.

"Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? . . . For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth."

How many of us today, who are not considered the "wise men" of our time, would be willing to risk giving up all that we have to find a simple child? How many of us would be willing to lose our wealth -  however small it may be - our knowledge and our influence, to embark on a journey to a distant land where we would face ridicule and scorn, when we couldn't even be sure that we would find that for which we sought?

These wise men were wise beyond the wisdom of the world. They had been given the gift of divine wisdom, that which comes only from the one true God. Can we say the same about ourselves?

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."



(Matthew 2:1-12; 1 Corinthians 1:20, 26; 1 Corinthians 1:18)

Have you ever found yourself going through a difficult time and wondering how in the world you were going to make it through? Have you found yourself crying out to God for deliverance from what troubles you were facing, hoping that He would just make all the difficult things disappear? Of course, that's not the way God usually works. We are told time and again in His Word that everything He does is for our good and His glory - but knowing that in our heads doesn't make it any easier on our hearts, does it?

Our pastor has been preaching through the book of Habakkuk recently. It's been interesting to see how desperately the prophet cries out before God, begging for deliverance. He is not given any promise of that deliverance, and yet, by the end of the book, he has found a way to rejoice in his circumstances.

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."

Oh that we could say the same with this Old Testament saint - that though we face the most difficult of situations (the fields yield no food... there be no herd in the stalls), we know beyond a doubt that our God will make our feet as the feet of a deer, to carry us higher - above the trials of this life, over the mountains of struggle, through the passes of discouragement. Our God is our strength, our Rock, our Fortress.

In that, we can rejoice.


(Habakkuk 3:17-19)

"Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it."

Wow. Can we say that with the psalmist? Do you consider the blow of conviction a kindness? Truly, it is, for it is what will bring us closer to Christlikeness. Do you consider the rebuke of wisdom as precious as the oil of anointment? That is a good description of it, for the Lord's reproof is His anointment upon His children. Think on what is written in Hebrews regarding this subject:

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,and chastises every son whom he receives.

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness."

It is for our good that we must face these rebukes and blows of righteousness. It is "that we may share his holiness" - and how can we share in that, unless we first share in His suffering? Some have said that Christianity is not a "bed of roses," for we must face many trials on our way to glory. However, I would put forth that is indeed a rose garden - for first we must face the thorns of the flesh and the world, and struggle to grow roots that go deep, until finally one day the beautiful flower of Christlike character blooms at the head. And even that must be pruned from time to time, that the quality may continue. And we are not left without encouragement in this growing cycle, for the writer of Hebrews continues:

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed."


(Psalm 141:5; Hebrews 12:5-10,11-13)

"As we watch tragic events unfolding, or more particularly as we experience adversity ourselves, we often are prone to ask God, 'why?' The reason we ask is because we do not see any possible good to us or glory to God that can come from the particular adverse circumstances that have come upon us or our loved ones. But is not the wisdom of God - thus the glory of God - more eminently displayed in bringing good out of calamity than out of blessing?"

What is this wisdom of which we speak?

It is "knowing and choosing the best means to the best end, upon knowledge of the facts and correct values."

How ought we to respond to this act of our God?

"C.H. Spurgeon . . . in his sermon on divine providence, said, 'Providence is wonderfully intricate. Ah! You want always to see through Providence, do you not? You never will, I assure you. You have not eyes good enough. You want to see what good that affliction was to you; you must believe it. You want to see how it can bring good to your soul; you may be enabled in a little time; but you can not see it now; you must believe it. Honor God by trusting Him.'"

Trust and obey!

"With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack? Surely we are the most favored of all creatures."

And rejoice!

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor . . . For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."


(Trusting God, Jerry Bridges; Quieting a Noisy Soul, Jim Berg; The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer; Romans 11:33-36)

Does anyone actually read this blog anymore?

Sometimes I feel like a lonely voice out here in the blogosphere. I know I avoid all the controversial topics of the day, and I don't put up much personal news. Maybe those are the main reasons people actually read blogs... I don't know.

I do know that the whole "blog craze" of a year or two ago has seemingly dwindled. Now only the faithful bloggers are those who post regularly. And some of them (us) have trouble doing even that. But it helps to know that people actually read what you write. Otherwise... why post at all? At that point, all a blog becomes is a glorified journal, for the writer's eyes only.

I believe that I can still make a difference out there with what I choose to write about. My goal is to encourage, to inspire, to provoke to love and good works. My ultimate goal is to see God glorified in my words and your responses.

Is it working? Or has this blog turned into nothing more than an online journal for my eyes only?

How do you spend your free time? I gravitate to the computer. Or books. Lately I've been thinking about how much "free time" I have (through no fault of my own, I'm unable to hold a job at the moment). And do I use that time profitably?

Facebook. Sharper Iron. Discussion Boards.

What do these profit? Sure, it's fun. It's nice to get in touch with other people, especially ones that you haven't heard from in about 10 years. It's exhilarating to get into a deep discussion about something you care about or have a strong opinion on. It's comforting to know that there are other people out there who agree with you on things.

Sure, I do other things besides go online. I write. I read. Lately I've been working on arranging some Christmas music for our choir. But I think the internet takes up the majority of my "free time."

How about you?

What do you do when there are no other demands on your time?

What doth it profit?

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace."


Think about each phrase in pictures. Think of the correlations that the Old Testament peoples would have made when reading this passage. Think of the purpose behind each of these actions. Think of the order with which God created His world and the order with which He maintains it. Think on these things.


(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

"For I know that the Lord is great,and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings...and all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel."

This is our God. OUR God. Doesn't that fill you with awesome wonder and amazement? OUR God, who has all this magnificent power, who cares for you and me individually. No wonder the Psalmist calls out for the world around him to bless the name of the Lord, and praise His greatness!

"O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!"



(Psalm 135:5-12, 19-21)