The Wise Men or the King
Jerry Watts
Matthew 2:1-12
With this being the last Sunday of the year and in just a few days the clean diary a new year opens for us, it will serve us well to consider a few things this morning.
Unlike any congregation ever before, today I am asking us to think selfishly and look backward for a few moments. As you consider these past 12 months, what is it that you have learned which makes you more like Christ? What traits do you display today that 12 months ago you didn't? What part of scripture has taken on new meaning to teach you something which you never knew before?
Candidly, considering these questions can be a painful experience. God's desire for each of us is to learn and grow every day, let alone, every year. Yet, we seem to miss His best for us.
The Story of the Wise Men which we have read this morning has always intrigued me. This is one story which I can say has taken on new meaning for me this year.
Most of the stories in the Bible show contrasts. Think about it; Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, Rich Man and Lazarus, Older and Younger brothers, and here the Wise Men and King.
While we all like to ''think'' we identify with the good and right of the wise men, I have a fear that too often our attitudes, qualities and characteristics are more like Herod.
Let's compare the two this morning and survey NOT where we WANT to be, but where we ARE.
Characteristics of the Wise Men - The ''wise men'' (or ''magi'' as is used by some translators) are men who, quite likely came over from Persia. No one knows exactly where they came from, but Persia is probably the most probable because of the similarities in belief systems. These men were obviously astrologers or more simply stated, ''Star Men'', they studied the stars. Based on their study of the stars, they acted. I see at least 3 characteristics to which we can compare ourselves.
Tremendously Curious - Why do I say, ''tremendously curious?'' Why not simply ''c ...
Jerry Watts
Matthew 2:1-12
With this being the last Sunday of the year and in just a few days the clean diary a new year opens for us, it will serve us well to consider a few things this morning.
Unlike any congregation ever before, today I am asking us to think selfishly and look backward for a few moments. As you consider these past 12 months, what is it that you have learned which makes you more like Christ? What traits do you display today that 12 months ago you didn't? What part of scripture has taken on new meaning to teach you something which you never knew before?
Candidly, considering these questions can be a painful experience. God's desire for each of us is to learn and grow every day, let alone, every year. Yet, we seem to miss His best for us.
The Story of the Wise Men which we have read this morning has always intrigued me. This is one story which I can say has taken on new meaning for me this year.
Most of the stories in the Bible show contrasts. Think about it; Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, Rich Man and Lazarus, Older and Younger brothers, and here the Wise Men and King.
While we all like to ''think'' we identify with the good and right of the wise men, I have a fear that too often our attitudes, qualities and characteristics are more like Herod.
Let's compare the two this morning and survey NOT where we WANT to be, but where we ARE.
Characteristics of the Wise Men - The ''wise men'' (or ''magi'' as is used by some translators) are men who, quite likely came over from Persia. No one knows exactly where they came from, but Persia is probably the most probable because of the similarities in belief systems. These men were obviously astrologers or more simply stated, ''Star Men'', they studied the stars. Based on their study of the stars, they acted. I see at least 3 characteristics to which we can compare ourselves.
Tremendously Curious - Why do I say, ''tremendously curious?'' Why not simply ''c ...
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