Notes
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
John 10:10
The wise men in the Christmas story had a battle plan for moving forward. They didn't let the enemy's plans stand in the way of what God wanted to do in and through them:
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him. " King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"
"In Bethlehem in Judea, " they said, "for this is what the prophet wrote: 'And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel. '" Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!"
After this interview, the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
Matthew 2:1-12
God's purpose for us is not only to save us but to call us into His mission. God didn't only come into the world to save us through Jesus, but to give us a set-apart calling, a calling to be a part of what He's doing. The wise men in the Christmas story give us an example of how to navigate challenges and stay aligned with God's plans, even in the face of opposition:
1) Move Past the Manipulation
Herod didn't really want to worship Jesus. He was using religious jargon to try and manipulate the wise men into giving him information he could use to kill Jesus. Even after their big conversation with the king, the wise men decided to follow God's direction instead of Herod's. And the gifts the wise men gave Jesus and His parents when He was about two years old - the gold, frankincense, and myrrh - helped their family escape to Egypt, keeping Him safe from Herod.
A lot of people talk about religious things. To get around the manipulation, we have to know the truth - what's in God's Word. There will be all kinds of things that will try to manipulate you away from God's plan for your life. God is changing the world through the local church; don't let any religious jargon tell you anything else. Know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
2) Keep Worshiping
Life is full of challenges, and that doesn't change just because we follow Christ. We will face difficult situations and circumstances, and God is still good. He is at work in our world, and His justice will prevail in the end. God always finishes what He starts. Don't let anything stop you from worshiping your Creator, the one who will make all things new.
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him... In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
Romans 12:1, 6
In God's grace - His unmerited favor - He empowers us to do certain things well. We don't deserve to be a part of His plan in the world, yet He empowers those who come to Him with gifts to worship Him with. To be a living sacrifice, to truly worship God, we need to step fully into who He created us to be and put our gifts together with others.
3) Don't Go Back
The wise men obeyed God's warning not to return to Herod. Their decision demonstrates the importance of listening to the voice of God over the voice of the enemy. Sin may feel comfortable, but faith calls us to walk into the unknown with God. Don't let fear or the enemy's lies pull you backwards. Keep moving forward in obedience and trust.
Group Questions
- The wise men faced manipulation from King Herod but chose to follow God's direction. Can you think of a time when someone or something tried to pull you away from God's plan?
- What gifts has God given you to serve Him and others? How can you use those gifts as an act of worship?
- How can we support one another in being "battle ready" and living out God's calling for our lives?
Prayer
Thank you for the rich and satisfying life you provide through Jesus. Help us to recognize when the enemy is trying to pull us back. Teach us to be battle-ready and to worship you regardless of the circumstances.