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. – Matthew 2:9. 

I remember years ago finding out that the wise men didn’t visit the manger.  I was blown away since they were present in many nativities that I had seen.  They showed up at a minimum of several weeks later, but a maximum of two years later. Hence, King Herod had his men kill babies that were “up to two years” old.  I had kind of forgotten about all of this, but I’ve been asked about this a few times this year.  People are just now being blown away by this as I was.   

I also remember learning that the light from the Sun takes 8.5 minutes to reach Earth.  The teacher said that if the Sun were to completely burn out right now, we wouldn’t know it for eight and a half minutes when light would cease for us.  The next closest star is Alpha Centauri.  The light seen from it left about four years and four months ago.  

This makes me wonder about the star placed for the wise men.  How long before they saw it did God place it there?  I know He can do anything He wants.  He can place the star with its light already at its destination, but I like to think that He placed that star years before and watched that light reach its destination at the perfect time.  

How amazing is He?

Here I am 2000 years later . . . and I care.  I had a church ask me to do some fill in preaching for the first couple of months of the new year.  I was asked about how much they should pay.  I simply said, “This church has meant so much to me.  It is the place where I really began to care about God and began to follow His ways.  Do you realize what a miracle it is for anyone to really care enough about this stuff that they allow it to change their lives?  Let me do it for free.”  I don’t think they’re going to let me do it for free, but I’m still amazed at how God knew the spot years ago that I would meet Him for real.  It kind of hit me that the light from that church was revealed to me at just the right time.  

This Christmas, if you have never felt His life-changing presence, start praying for it.  All you really have to do is ask Him for it.  Then, set yourself up to make it likely to happen.  Go to a candlelight service, watch one online, or just sit alone with the Word.  He probably won’t do it through any of them, but He likes your effort and then will blow you away with how He chooses to reveal Himself.

Lord, I’ll never forget praying for Your presence.  I was at this little church where I’ll be preaching a few times next year.  I knew everyone was feeling something special, but I wasn’t.  I prayed that You’d let me in on it.  Something in my spirit had me not put a cassette tape in the deck of my truck for the first time in my life.  I listened to Christian radio instead.  Eventually, You played “The Best Thing” by the Big Tent Revival.  The Holy Spirit touched my heart, and it was the first time I’d ever felt You.  I knew Heaven was for real and what it will feel like when we get there.  You let me feel it again just the other day listening to a church service online.  It is amazing how, in those moments, I could not care less about the things of this world.  There is really no one else like You.  Bless me and keep me this Christmas.  Make Your face to shine upon me and my family.  Be gracious to us all, Lord.  And God bless us everyone.  Amen