I am currently reading through the Bible in a year using the Bible Recap plan. Last week, I made it to the New Testament and was in Matthew 2. As I explored the event in history of the wise men coming to Jerusalem to find the Messiah, their statement struck me,
“we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” (Matt. 2:2)
As I pondered those words, I thought about the God of the universe creating a star to shed light on Jesus’ birth. Something that is so big and so far away, we have not been able to get to or move. It affirmed to me that all of creation bore witness to Jesus.
Think about it: the God of the universe, who spoke everything into being, creates a star to shed light on the human birth of His Son. In the same way, you and I place candles on a cake, light them, and sing Happy Birthday. That is more effort than God had to put into creating a star to shine down on the King of Kings. If he followed the pattern of Genesis chapter 1, He spoke, and it happened. Why would that not be the case?
Why is it then that we cannot put our faith in that same God to take care of us? Why can’t we be thankful for the way he has taken care of us? Why can’t we be thankful during the challenges in our lives? Why can’t we be thankful that, because of Jesus’ birth, life, sacrificial offering through his death, and ultimately his resurrection, we can personally know God the Father? As you and I approach Thanksgiving, let us be thankful for what He has done, as the wise men were thankful for God’s shining birthday candle —a star.