Monday December 20, 2021

Today is Monday, December 20 and during this fourth week of Advent we explore what the Bible says about seeking Christ in Christmas.

As I enter a time of prayer, I pause and become still. I breathe slowly and deeply, and focus myself on the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

Pause and Pray

God, thank you for loving me. Reveal the message you have for me this Christmas through the power of your Holy Spirit. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, born in a manger and born in my heart anew. Amen.

I rejoice in God’s love and praise him with the words of Psalm 63.

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:1-4

Pause and Pray

The three magi, or wise men, came from the east, from the Persian Empire. They planned for many years to make this journey and patiently watched the skies for a sign. They researched, studied, discussed the prophecies and waited. When they “observed the star at its rising” they packed for a long journey into the unknown. The sojourn to Bethlehem would take several months. These three astronomers followed a star of prophecy seeking a king. The star led them to Jesus. They were willing to go significantly out of their way to seek Jesus. When the star stopped, their seeking stopped, they found Jesus and responded with overwhelming joy (Matthew 2:10). It is the same reaction we have when we find Jesus – overwhelming joy!

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 when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 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 search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 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, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:1-2,7-11

The three wise men came seeking Jesus because they desired to worship him. In the busyness of this final week of the holiday season, amid the hustle and bustle of last minute gift buying, wrapping, decorating and cooking, I have little time to seek the presence of Jesus and worship him. Yet that is what is most important. Christmas is about his coming and the joy that it brings to me, my life and the world. The three magi go and search carefully for the child until they find him, they are of singular purpose. Despite the hectic holiday schedule, I must remember to put first things first and keep Jesus as the central focus of my Christmas. I earnestly seek Christ in this year’s Christmas celebration. I will be overjoyed to find him, bow down at the manger alongside the three wise men and worship him. They did not come empty handed, but opened their treasures and presented him with gifts. What gift do I have to offer the Christ child?

Ask: How can I actively seek Christ in Christmas? What gift can I bring to Jesus?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, as the wisemen waited, watched and journeyed to seek your presence, I seek you today. I do not want you to get lost in the activities of the holiday. Help me get to the heart of the season and truly find you in Christmas. Enable me to recover the genuine joy of Christmas by intentionally seeking and finding you. I read Matthew again, listening for the message you have for me today.

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 when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 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 search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 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, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:1-2,7-11

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

As I carefully read this account of the three magi, I consider how far they traveled and how earnestly they sought Jesus. I ponder what it is I seek this Christmas season. Do I seek Christ and long to worship him or do I seek the things of this world? Which words resonate with my spirit – words like go, search, see, and joy? Or words like hear, disturb, troubled and sent? I imagine traveling alongside the wisemen on their arduous journey and finally seeing the star over the house of the child. I consider the emotions the discovery of the star cause me to feel. I bow down and worship the baby in the manger, born to be a king. I look to see what I hold in my hands – the treasures I possess that I can present to him as a gift. What is my gold, frankincense and myrrh?

Pause and Pray

Come, blessed Lord Jesus. I invite you into my heart and life. I long for your presence in the midst of this overloaded holiday season. I set everything aside and earnestly search for you amid the tinsel and bows. I will not be satisfied until I find you and you alone. I offer my gifts in joyful response to the best gift ever given. Thank you. Amen.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

As I leave this time of prayer and go throughout my day, I go seeking Christ in Christmas and seeking peace with others. Amen.