The Chosen Star ~ Valerie Ronald

 

                                                                                                (photo credit: © Alyn Wallace)

 I am called Al Na’ir, the Bright One. This is my story of how Elohim, Creator of all, called me from among the stars of His universe to perform a most sacred task. Countless are we who light the night skies, though not by Elohim, who determines our number and knows each of us by name. I will never forget His voice calling me, like the sound of a rushing mighty wind.

I was formed in the Pleiades cluster, one of a group of stars with a common motion through the firmament. Each of us were made unique, differing in splendour from star to star. Our voices, if that is what the sound of stars can be called, sang together at the dawn of our creation with praises to Elohim.

A frisson of expectation had been rippling throughout the heavens for some time when I first heard Elohim’s voice. I dare not venture to know why He chose me to be a herald for the advent of His most pivotal epiphany. Pride has no place in such a holy service to my Creator.

Specific coordinates of my position in the heavens caused my luminosity to be particularly evident to astronomers throughout Babylon and Mesopotamia, during the reign of Phraates V. Influential men of those lands, known as Magi, read the night skies for portents of what was to come. They gathered knowledge from cultures far and wide, including the Jews. As my light grew, the bright glimmering recalled to their minds the foretelling in ancient manuscripts of a Jewish Messiah, an anointed king whose birth would be confirmed with the sign of a star.

“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.” 1 

Elohim stirred a desire in the hearts of certain Magi to undertake a journey to see this king for themselves. The wise men and their retinue traveled many days from east to west, across deserts and mountains. Their destination was Jerusalem, the Jewish holy city, where they inquired, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

So this was my calling! I, Al Na’ir, had been raised by Elohim to herald the birth of His son, the Messiah, foretold for centuries as the coming King. Could any star be given a more profound mission?

Disturbed by the Magi’s inquiries, the reigning king, Herod, discovered that the small town of Bethlehem of Judea was where this Messiah was to be born. He sought out the Magi to find out exactly when they first noticed the sign of my radiance shining in the night sky. Then he sent them to Bethlehem to search for the child and report back with his whereabouts so he could worship him also. In fact, he was plotting to destroy this perceived threat to his rule.

Nightfall revealed swaths of twinkling stars flung across the ebony sky, as beauteous as a sea of diamonds. I rose high among them, proceeding across the cosmos to guide the Magi to the objective of their search, where I stopped. Their joy at my appearance caused me to glimmer and shine all the brighter, just for them. Beneath my beams stood the house where the child resided ˗˗ Heaven’s glory now abiding in a humble village home tucked in the hills of Bethlehem ˗˗ Elohim wrapped in newborn skin ˗˗ God incarnate. As miraculous as I knew the endless expanse of the universe to be, it paled in comparison to the wonder of God becoming human.

Bowing down before the child with His mother, the Magi worshiped Him. They knew His significance, though many before and after them would deny who He was. They knew He was not just an earthly king, but One who had come to be the Savior of the world. Their costly gifts signified what God had revealed to them. Gold to honor a king, frankincense, often sprinkled on temple sacrifices, and myrrh, an unusual gift for a newborn king as it was used in embalming the dead. All were gifts testifying to the child’s royalty, His deity and His eventual sacrificial death on behalf of humanity.

My mission in that epoch of time is complete. I am most grateful to Elohim for choosing me to light the way for the Magi to find the newborn Messiah. Celestial celebrations mark His birth, yet I am sobered by the knowledge that He came to be a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. As a heavenly luminary, I am but a pinprick of light compared to the glory of the Morning Star, Jesus Christ, destined to live again as eternal Lord and King, whose light will shine forever. Praise His holy name! 

1  Numbers 24:17 NKJV

More of Valerie's work can be read on her blog:

https://scriptordeus.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

Christmas Gifts From Wise Men by Marnie Pohlmann

I opened gifts yesterday. Did you?

And I gave gifts, too. Did you give gifts?

I enjoyed time with my eternal family at a Christmas Eve candlelight service, and at a Christmas Day worship service. I prepared and shared a meal with my loved ones. Did your preparation for Christmas make the day as special as you hoped?

And today is Boxing Day. All we have prepared for is done. Are you hanging on to yesterday, still treasuring this celebration before daily life begins again?

The good news is, Christmas continues!

Scripture reveals the story is not finished. The birth of Jesus, which we celebrate on Christmas day, is recorded in the Bible, where we can read “the rest of the story.”

One part of the Christmas story that happens after the birth of the baby-king is written in Matthew, Chapter 2, which gives account of wise men who traveled to present gifts to the prophesied Messiah. There is not a lot of information about the Magi, or the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh that they brought, but traditions offer some thoughts.

The Magi

             were wise men,

             astrologers, prophets, and/or dream interpreters.

             Seekers of the King.

Gold

             was a gift of riches,

             a symbol of earthly kingship.

             Jesus as King.

Frankincense

             was a perfume,

             a symbol of deity.

             Jesus as God, Messiah.

Myrrh

             was an anointing oil,

             a symbol of death.

             Jesus as mortal man.

We hear a lot about what Christmas means in the world today. The birth of a Saviour, God with us, is often not considered, is not popular, is forgotten, or is completely unknown.

Dare I say…

Christmas is not about family coming together for meals.

Christmas is not about gift giving to loved ones, to those less fortunate than you, or to strangers.

Christmas is not about fighting winter’s dark with festive lights and parties.

(Gasp!)

And yet…

And yet, that is exactly what Christmas is about.

Today, so many years after the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Magi, we too can present gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus.

             Gold

             gifts and charity,

             given to the world God loves.

             God become man, through us.

             Frankincense

             sweet scent,

             gathered together as family.

             God’s people, praising Him.

             Myrrh

             anointing oil of death,

             light of Hope in dark places.

             God’s life, forever.

We can be like the wise men.

We can discover Truth and learn of God by studying His Word. The Magi studied ancient writings to discover what the star that appeared meant.

Are you searching Scripture to learn about the King?

We can be seekers, leaving the comforts of home, family, and career to follow where God leads. Abraham did so. The disciples did so. The wise men did so.

Will you go where God leads?

We can offer our gifts to God, even when God doesn’t look or act the way we think He does or He should. The wise men meant their gifts for royalty. They were looking for a king, yet when the learned explorers found a baby in a lowly manger rather than a king in a palace, they still presented their gifts and worshiped Him.

When the God you meet is not who you expect or want, will you still worship Him?

If your Christmas celebration did not include time for Jesus, remember that the story is not over. The greatest gift has been given, yet there is still time to search for, follow, and worship the Messiah.

Open your heart and life to the present (gift) of God’s present (right now) presence (with you) and in response, you can give to Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Marnie writes from Taylor, BC. Check out her blog, Phosphorescent, at marniewriter.com

Following the Star by Marnie Pohlmann

Festive lights sparkle and reflect diamonds in the snow. The colours of Christmas displayed on the street make our neighbourhood welcoming and cheerful. Some nights, the northern lights join in the celebration, dancing across the night sky. My gaze lifts to where stars travel across black velvet, and I consider the Magi of the Christmas story.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:1-2 NKJV)

The wise men had been studying the skies, and saw a bright star. They searched through literature to determine what they could know of the star, and found a prophesy declaring a King would be born - not just any king, but a king who would change the world. So they began a journey to find and honour this baby king.

Tradition and Biblical scholars indicate the Magi were wealthy, educated men of high standing in their community yet still, they undertook a spiritual pilgrimage, leaving the comfort of home, position, and power. They followed a star, not knowing where it would lead, but knowing it was important to do something with the information they found.

Have you made time this Christmas to travel about and view the lights of the season, both man-made and God-provided? While we can travel around town in the daytime and may notice the decorations, it is really only in the dark of night that we witness the wondrous displays in all their glory. This year, as people seem to lament the darkness of the world, perhaps we see the lights especially bright, and we remember the hope of Christ shines in darkness.

 … and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 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. (Matthew 2:9-11 NKJV)

After the magi found and worshiped Jesus, these wise men returned to their homes. Was their intellectual curiosity satisfied? Were they soulfully changed by their encounter with Immanuel? Did they continue to walk in the light of God, sharing their experiences – the wonder, threats, dreams, struggles, and the discovery of the Christ-child? Scripture does not elaborate on the effect this spiritual journey had on the Magi, but perhaps we ourselves will return home after seeing the light of Christmas, ready to share our meeting with Immanuel.

God’s light does clearly shine in the darkness of today, inviting us on a spiritual journey and drawing us to Him. As we consider the Magi, we must wonder – are we willing to travel in God’s path, not knowing where He is leading? Are we willing to sacrifice comfort and riches to seek Truth, following the star, to worship Christ? The journey may be difficult and could be dangerous, but we must do something with what we know, study, and reflect on.

Better to illuminate than merely to shine, 
to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate. 
- Thomas Aquinas

Photo Credits:

Northern Lights: CCO license - pexels.com

Magi: Marnie Pohlmann

Christmas Star: CCO license - pixabay.com