The star that leads us

At the top of our Christmas trees most of us fix a star. It is a reminder that high over Bethlehem, when Jesus was born there was a star.

God hung this brilliant star to mark the place where Jesus was born. The Bethlehen star was so bright that it made all the other stars seem dim. It hung like God's favorite ornament in the sky.

The star pointed the way for the Wise Men to come and see Jesus. The star represents God's guiding hand.

On that night of Christ's birth the Bethlehem star was high above the heads of every man, but the Wise Men looked up and saw it and then followed it. All men could have seen it, but it was the Wise Men who followed it and brought gifts to baby Jesus.

You remember the song "Star of Wonder Star of Night, Star with Royal Beauty Bright. Westward leading still proceeding, Guide us to the perfect Light."

The Bible says that when the Wise Men found the baby in a manger they "had exceeding great joy."

One of the first songs we learn as children is "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, how I wonder what you are." There is a tradition of making a wish on the evening star. "Star bright Star Light, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight."

In Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket sang, "When you wish upon a star. makes no difference who you are.....when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true. "

Wishing on a star is a form of praying. What we wish for is our heart's deep desire, it is what we want most and we ask God for it and when we believe in God He will guide us to work toward the things that are most important to us.

The real star in the Christmas story is Jesus. He shines brighter and brighter in our lives as we learn more about Him. God gave us Jesus to brighten our lives, just as he put the Bethlehem star above the place where Jesus was born, and he lights the night sky with stars to brighten our way.

When we think of God creating stars, we might think of them as night lights to lighten the darkness.

Remember that God turns on the stars, the night lights for us, and that he gave us Jesus to love us and give us joy. When the Wise Men saw the baby Jesus they rejoiced and were glad. When we are led to Jesus we too find happiness. When we trust God He will make bright the way ahead.
-- by Joan Wetzel

Category Posted: General