ADVENTure  Day 16 –

I still have a few of the pieces of the nativity set that we used when I was growing up.  The pieces are chipped and baby Jesus is missing an arm; but the main problem is that the wise men are there.  You see, when Jesus was born, a new star rose.  The wise men saw this and started preparing then.  By the time they got to Bethlehem, they found Jesus in a house –

Matthew 2:10-11 (NKJV) – “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.  And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

The point of this is not to be nitpicky but to point out the importance of the birth to the wise men.  These were men who practiced a different religion.  And, yet, God called them to play an important part in His advent.  They followed the call of God and found the young Messiah in a house in Bethlehem.  They provided the gifts that made it possible for Mary and Joseph to take Jesus out of the reach of Herod who killed all the little boys in Bethlehem.  Their simple devout act of worship made all the difference even to us now.

You too can make a difference!  Is God calling you to do something that will disrupt your life?  If it is truly God’s calling, step out and be faithful in it.  The wise men never saw the difference they made.  You may not either, but rest assured that if you are walking with the confirmed direction of God, your actions will make an eternal difference!