Devotionals - Discover the Book - Dec. 12, 2006

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The Magi
GCM-Glory of Christmas (MP3 CD)
Matthew 1 and 2

The greatest invasion of all time was not Normandy at D-Day, nor the Gulf War or the coming Iraqi Invasion—it was the night God came to live on His Planet Earth. 

There are 1189 chapters in the Bible, 250 in the New Testament and 89 in the Four Gospels. Of all those chapters in God's Word there are four that detail the Birth of Jesus. There are four chapters of The New Testament that describe this night. They are Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. From these chapters comes an intriguing and very powerful cast of characters. If all seventeen were listed they would be: 

• Six Saints
• Several shepherds
• Three sinners
• A Prophet
• A Host of Angels
• A bunch of stuffed Robed Religious big shots
• Some mysterious Magi from the East
• Gabriel the Archangel
• And the Savior of the World. 

From this cast, let's draw out a few of them. Through their response to the Birth of Christ we can learn and follow. Don’t miss out on the blessings and wonders of the 1^st Christmas. You won’t if you learn from these. 

So which ones were looking for Jesus? Let’s just zero in on a few of these folks and try to heed what God is trying to tell us.  Okay? Who were they?  Well, Matthew lists a cast of 6 (turn to Mt. 1-2).

1. Mary- pondering, worshiping, trusting and obeying
2. Joseph - fearful, faithful, obedient, seeking and sacrificing
3. Magi - willing to follow anywhere to find their king
4. Herod - more concerned about his crown, his business, his legacy, his pleasures, his women, his wine, his building projects, his businesses, his security -- than his soul
5. Chief priests and religious leaders – they used the Scriptures, but didn’t obey them. They knew about the prophets, but they did not believe prophecy
6. Jesus 

On the first Christmas when God invaded the time space prison of earth, there were many different people who were around. Those who were looking for Him, found Him and that day the greatest in their lives, the other who were not looking for Him, and missed the greatest opportunity in their lives.  

How about it? Are you looking for Jesus this Christmas? Or is this Christmas flying by so fast you will miss what God is offering you? Everyone who was looking for Jesus to come enjoyed His arrival. As we examine their lives we can often see ourselves. Who are you like?  

Let pause and read the story again Matthew 1:18-2:12 

Joseph: Faithful and Following Second Fiddle (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:13,19)

• Willing to be obedient and obscure!
• Obey even if you don’t understand what God is doing.
• Joseph sought the Lord with his problems (1:18-20a)
• Joseph listened to the Lord for His guidance (1:20b-23)
• Joseph obeyed the Lord by his actions (1:24-25a)
• Joseph honored the Lord through his obedience (1:25b) 

Chapter 2 contrasts three characters: the Magi, Herod, and the religious leaders. 

• The Magi were INSISTENT.
• Herod was INSECURE.
• The Religious Leaders were INDIFFERENT. 

The INSISTENT Magi: God can use the rich and powerful (Mt. 2:1,7,16)

• COME TO HIM (cap off the camera, turn on the phone, open the blinds; they didn’t send their gifts, they came. God wants you, in person, to come to Him).
• BRING TO HIM Sacrifice your time, freedom, and comfort for Him(they traveled 1100 to 1200 miles across deserts and mountains from the regions of Babylon or Persia or Media)
• GIVE TO HIM: Present what you have to Him (a little boy’s lunch; an upper room; an unbroken colt; an unrequested flask of perfume …)

BOW TO HIM: Personally Worship Him (they came, bowed and worshiped Him).

For more from Discover the Book Ministries, please visit  discoverthebook.org.

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