Follow His Lead:
Matthew 2:1-12
Ernest Godfrey
Throne of Grace Bible Church International (New York, USA)
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
It’s that time of the year again when the whole world celebrates specifically the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christiandom calls it Christmas, but did you know that about 700 years before Christ’s birth, and before the visit of the Magi that the scriptures spoke about their visit?
Now, let’s see what the prophet Isaiah said seven hundred years before the birth of Christ and before the visit of the Magi. Isaiah 60:1-6 says:
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord.
Although this passage speaks about the Gentiles’ acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, it specifically speaks about the visit of the Magi with their gifts to the Baby Jesus.
All the Magi had to do was follow the star that directed them to Bethlehem to meet the Savior of the whole world – Jesus Christ. They did not allow anything or anyone to distract them. They were diligent, focused and paid attention to details. Are you diligent, purposeful, focused and resolute in your work with Christ? Every individual knows the answer to this question. It is very important to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in this Heavenly race. If not, there’s bound to be a shipwreck. The Holy Scripture tells us that, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). If the Magi never followed the star, they would have missed their way. That would have been tragic!
Moreover, you may not even know everything that lies ahead of you, but by the simple fact that you have decided to be led by the spirit of God and obey the revealed Word of God in the Holy Bible, “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28), you are safe in His hands.
Christmas is a time of celebration. It is wise to remember the reason for the season – The Birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, even as testified by John the Baptist, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). You are on a divine assignment on earth. Therefore, follow the leading of the Spirit of God so you can fulfill your divine destiny. Christ fulfilled His on earth, so should you.
Finally, remember the Word of God and His promise that, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24). May your Christmas celebration be filled with Jesus Christ. After all, it is His Birthday!
I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas! By the way, don’t forget that this same Jesus is coming back again, so be ready!
