My “Holiday Stars” watercolor painting depicts my collection of decorative stars on a metal shelf in my home. I enjoy decorating my house at Christmas time and love the season for many reasons; mostly to focus my attention on the birth of Jesus! It is mind boggling to me that the Son of God chose to come to earth as a human baby, and sacrifice His life to save us!

Matthew 2:1-2 reads:

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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

This part of the nativity story has always intrigued me. These wise men were not of the Jewish faith, but they recognized something special about this star and that it signified the birth of the baby Jesus, the King of the Jews. And their response was to “come to worship Him.”

It makes me think about the times that God reveals truth to us. He often uses every day things of life to reveal Himself. The question is: do we notice the signs He brings us? And if we do perceive them, do we turn our attention to Him in order to worship Him? This is my prayer for myself and my loved ones: that we would pay attention every day, watching for the signs God brings into our days, and when we recognize the sign, that we would come and worship Him. Especially as we enter a New Year, may we live each day in anticipation and expectation of how God would choose to reveal Himself to us! And then, to worship Him!