Why the Wise Men Were Really, Really Wise

Contrary to most nativity scenes that are displayed and for sale during this time of year, the wise men (or Magi) didn't visit baby Jesus at the manger.  (By the way, the Bible also never says there were three men, but three gifts.....so we really don't know how many there were.)  But the past few days, I've been thinking about just how wise those wise men were.

Think with me for a little bit about the things that made the wise men really, really wise:

The wise men saw the star that appeared when Jesus was born and they left the "East" to go find Him.  Where was the "East"?  How far was it from the "east" to Bethlehem? How long did it take them? We don't know.  The Bible doesn't say.  What it does say is that they went to Bethlehem for a very important reason.  They went to worship Jesus.  What wisdom!

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi  from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east  and have come to worship him.” 

Matthew 2:1-2

King Herod wasn't too thrilled about this news about this new king being born, was he?  He questioned the wise men to find out exactly when the star had appeared and more about where the child was to be born.  He instructed the wise men to go to Bethlehem and search for the child so that he could go and worship him, too.

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Matthew 2:7-8

In my research I found that the distance between the two towns was six miles, so not too far - even if on foot or by camel or donkey.  However, what makes the wise men even more wise is #1 that they continued to search for Jesus, #2 that they continued following the star, and #3 that they knew that they couldn't trust King Herod, but could only trust God.  It seems apparent that God was guiding the wise men, doesn't it?  It certainly does, but just like with us, the wise men could have gone against the will of God.  They could have stopped following the star.  They could have given up on the search of Jesus.  They could have believed King Herod and gone back to him with the information he was seeking, but they didn't.  The were really, really wise, and after they arrived at the house (house....not manger) and worshipped Jesus and gave Him their gifts, they went back to their country using a different route.  What wisdom!

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Matthew 2:9-12

That is the last time we hear of the wise men, but all of these years later, they are still showing their faith and trust in God as an example to us because of what we read in God's Word.  We can see for ourselves just how wise they were.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

   So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

  When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Matthew 2:13-16 

So, what can we learn from these wise men?  How can we be really, really wise?  By doing what they did!

#1 - By continuing to search for Jesus and when we find him, to continue to seek Him.  Seek Him with all of our hearts for all of our lives.

#2 - By continuing to follow the star....Jesus.....the light of the world!

#3 - By trusting in God in all things.  Not letting the ways of men or the ways of the world get in the way of trusting and following him.

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Be WISE!

Wise Lessons Learned

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful for wise lessons learned....

Last week in our Wednesday night Bible study, the teacher told a story about a lesson he had learned several years ago.  At that time the teacher was a young father.  His son played little league.   He was upset about the little league field and began to complain to his dad about another young father who was working on the field.  He didn't think this other father was doing to the field what needed to be done.  He didn't care for the way the other father was taking care of the field at all, really.  The teacher said that his dad said something really wise to him...something that really changed his life.  He said, "Well, at least he is doing something!".  In other words, this teacher's father pointed out to him that he himself wasn't doing anything to help with the field.  He was only complaining about what was being done.  From that day on this teacher said he always looked for ways to actively help and not just sit back and complain while others did the work.

I've thought a lot about this story since last Wednesday.  How many times do I complain (either in my head or out loud) about the way something is being done?  And, if I do complain, what am I doing to help the situation?  Unfortunately, many times when we complain, we are just complaining about something that we aren't willing to help change.  It's easy to complain.  It's much harder to get involved and try to make things better.

I've actually experienced this first hand many times throughout my volunteer work.  Each year I organize the town/school carnival.  Sometimes there are complaints about how the carnival is run, how the booths are set up, or something else.  I would say that every year there is a complaint of some sort - some BIG and some small.  But, most of the time, the ones who are doing the complaining are the ones who aren't willing to help organize the event at all.  It's the same thing with the fair parade, which I also have organized many times.  Last year I had lots of "advice" about how it should be done or why something should not be done.  Finally, after tolerating a lot of "input" (that's a nice way of saying it!), I suggested (very nicely) that the person giving all of the advice, should take over the parade the next year.  Would it surprise you if I told you I never got any more advice after that?  Funny how that works, isn't it????

So, let's ask ourselves two questions:
1.  If I have a complaint about something (anything), what am I doing to help the situation?
2.  Is there something I could do to make it better?  If so, am I willing to work to make it better?

We all have our "pet projects"...certain things that are important to us.  Sometimes we expect others to feel the same about our projects and we want them to be involved and help us. But, are we willing to help others with their "pet projects"? Sometimes yes and sometimes no.  We must realize that sometimes we are going to be disappointed because we're going to be alone.  There may be no one willing to help.  It's at those times, we must evaluate our motives of WHY we are doing what we are doing.  Is it to glorify God or to receive praise from others?  If we are honest with ourselves, we should only be doing what we are doing to honor and glorify God.  If we get help from others - fine.  If not, that's okay, too, because as my husband said in a sermon yesterday, "We are living our life for an audience of one!".  Only one.  And that ONE is God.

I have one more question for you:  If everyone in the world was just like you, what would get done?  What would be left un-done?  Think about the wise answer the father gave his son in the story above.  "At least he is doing something."  What are you doing?

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

To see what others are grateful for, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Wisdom

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
--Reinhold Niebuhr

I found this prayer in a set of stationery many years ago and cut it out. It was taped where I could see it every day. I don't have that little paper any more, but it continues to be something that I think of from time to time. Until yesterday, as I was looking for the origin of the prayer, I had no idea that it is really much longer than what I have listed above.

The key to this prayer, in my opinion, is found in the last part - "wisdom". It takes wisdom to know what we should just accept or what we should have the courage to try and change. Where does wisdom come from? Some of us may be wise - we were knitted together in that way. Others of us may not be so wise. Some wisdom comes from learning through academics or learning a specific trade. But the kind of wisdom we should desire can be found through reading God's Word. We should desire this type of wisdom, which comes from heaven.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

It starts with fear - but not a scared fear. A Christian's fear is one that realizes that God is in control of the entire universe, and we should worship Him in reverence, and in awe, and in total submission. For those who have not yet become a child of God this fear is the fear of the judgment of God and eternal death, which is eternal separation from God (Luke 12:5; Hebrews 10:31)
.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10

If we find we are lacking in the kind of heavenly wisdom we desire to have, God encourages us with these verses: "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him," James 1:5. But, this promise has a string attached to it, as we can see in verse 6: "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

I don't know about you, but I need to be asking God for wisdom every day!

"Can I Tell It To Dad?"

Last week we were eating lunch. All six of us were at the table. Jacob began telling me a story about his birthday party last year. He and a friend were on the front porch eating their cake and ice cream. The friend said, "Jacob, I dare you to push my face in my cake." Jacob took the dare and smashed his face into the cake! Then Jacob said to the friend, "Do it to me." And, the friend smashed Jacob's face into the cake! Then Jacob said they went inside and washed their faces off.

Hearing this story, I was amazed, really. I'm usually pretty perceptive about what's going on around here....especially during a birthday party....and especially with eight third grade boys here at the time for a sleep over!

I said, "Jacob, that really isn't the kind of story a mom wants to hear."
Jacob replied, "Then can I tell it to Dad?"

I had just told Jacob a "Mom" wouldn't want to hear that type of story and he asks if he can tell it to "Dad"!....even though his Dad was right there hearing the whole thing! I have been accused of not being as much fun as my husband...maybe that's why (hee hee).

This story makes me think of a question the preacher of our Gospel Meeting talked about this week. Instead of asking "How close is too close?" in regards to sin, we should be asking, "What is the wise thing for me to do?" Sometimes we want to get right up close to sin, when we should flee from it. Satan uses all kinds of tactics to draw us away from God. Let's strive to do what is wise.

Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Proverbs 8:33

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7b

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Biscuit's Words of Wisdom

Biscuit's Words of Wisdom #1:
Lauren and I were playing a game called "Bananagrams". It's kind of like Scrabble, except you make words right in front of you using your own tiles. Lauren asked me if a certain three letters made a word, such as "S", "E", "R", or something like that. Biscuit piped up and said, "Sound it out!". He seems to think that if you can sound it out - it's a word. Sounds logical, doesn't it?

Biscuit's Words of Wisdom #2:
The other day Jacob was looking for a shirt and he couldn't find it. Sometimes Biscuit gets a lot of clothes out and when he puts them up, occassionally gets his brother's in with the mix. So, I asked Biscuit, "Do you know where Jacob's shirt is?". Biscuit answered, "Where he put it." Yep, that's probably right! Whatever is lost can sometimes be found right where we left it.

Biscuit's Words of Wisdom #3:
Last night we were eating around the table (yea, the "table"!) and were discussing an older member who had passed away. Biscuit said, "You mean Mrs. P?" His dad answered, "No. Mr. H. Mrs. P has already been buried." Biscuit said in one big long statement, question, and answer, "Oh, yes. I remember...Do you think she went to heaven or hell?....I'm thinking heaven.....We went to see her in the hospital". I'm telling you, the rest of us could hardly keep a straight face! The question he asked isn't funny, of course. That question is a serious question. It was just funny the way he was logically thinking out loud.

So, from Biscuit's Words of Wisdom, what can we learn today?

#1 - If something seems right, it may be right, but it doesn't necessarily make it right. What I "think" does not equal what God desires. The Bible is the ONLY source of what is right and true and good.

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

#2 - If something is lost, we should look for it in the right place. The Bible teaches what to do if someone is spiritually lost. We should seek to find the lost.

Luke 15 (whole chapter) tells of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.

#3 - Biscuit's question is something we should each ask about ourselves. If we were to die, would we go to Heaven or to Hell? We can be certain of where we will spend eternity if we follow the steps of salvation that are laid out in the Bible and continue to live faithfully for Him.

"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things (the "things" are listed in the verses above), you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."2 Peter 1:10-11

Have a great weekend, everyone!