The wise men were a different kind of people.
They were distinguished in category and they also were considered as magi.
The word tells us they came from the east to see the newborn baby of Mary and Joseph.
It took them a long time to arrive. We often see the images of the wise men at the stable.
That isn’t so. They didn’t really arrive till the baby was almost a year old.
There were many months of travel time till they came to the right ‘place’ of worship following the leading of the stars in the sky.
When they did arrive they brought the most unusual gifts for the baby.
These gifts were ordinary for a king but not for a little baby.
One was gold suggesting royalty.
One was frankincense suggesting prayer and worship.
One was myrrh suggesting suffering and death.
Wouldn’t that be strange gifts for a new baby?
Not if prophecy was surrounding the birth of this special little child.
These gifts were appropriate for the role Jesus would play later.
I am sure Mary knew enough about these gifts to continually ponder all that she had seen and observed about her new baby.
Royal gifts for her ‘special’ son would bring deeper meaning to her heart.
The wise men came to see and bow down to him ‘who was born’ in Bethlehem.
The wise men brought gifts to the chosen one.
You wonder what they felt like after all that journey.
When they looked upon his sweet face and presented all they had to offer him.
The significance of the moment was huge.
You wonder what the wisemen were thinking when they finally arrived.
Matthew 2:9-10 Instructed by the king (Herod), they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
Another one who was chosen above many others was Mary.
Chosen to play a very important part in the story.
Chosen to mature as a young teenage girl and trust in all she was told.
I believe God knew her heart was right.
I believe God knew she was the one who was to be the mother.
Can you even imagine?
Mary knew some of the story but she had no clue it would be include her.
She accepted the journey ahead of her.
The word tells us she ‘pondered it all’ into her heart.
She kept it close.
She knew HE was special just as she was.
We never know how much our hearts would break when asked to do
something God could ask.
She grew in love as she accepted and grew in heart ache as she saw.
Our pastor said: it began in an empty womb and ended in an empty tomb.
Oh to be chosen.
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Not only were the shepherds out in the field chosen, but Joseph was chosen to be the ‘father’ of the son.
A very important role.
Being a dad is hard work but knowing you were chosen to guide and protect and raise the son… until the time would come to let go. Could he let go in his heart?
Very little is said about Joseph later in life.
Did he remember all the special times they had shared together after it was all over.
We don’t know.
In fact not much is shared about Mary either.
Each were chosen to be ‘parents’ of the son. The Son. Whom the father ‘loved’. Whom the father chose. Who chooses us to… if we let him.
In the day when Jesus was born the shepherds were not the most popular people.
They were considered out casts. Dirty. Not necessarily socialized we could even say they were marginalized people.
Yet the angels came to them first. In the night as they were watching their sheep.
They were rough and mean. The the role of a shepherd was to fight off intruders or predators that might want to hurt their flock of sheep.
The were fearless. They were used to being out in the dark following and chasing off shadows of threat or intent.
When the angels came the word tells us they were ‘terrified’.
That is a strong word describing their state of behavior.
Luke 2:8-12 (msg)
There were sheepherders (shepherds) camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” They were terrified.
(Those rough and tough men who would fight off lions or other predators were terrified when they saw the Glorious angels.)
13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over.
“Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.”
They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
Seeing was believing.
They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.
All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.
The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen.
It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
Can you even imagine being the first ones told about the birth of the baby?
The Savior, Messiah?
They were chosen as outcasts to be very important.
Isn’t it like God to do that?
Hope comes to all of us no matter where we are in life.
Glory to God…God chooses us in spite of what others say or what we say about ourselves.
He found value and chose them to see and hear so they could be credible witnesses to the special birth.
Isn’t it wonderful to be chosen?
When it came time she laid down and gave birth to a son and they called him Jesus.
“for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
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Philipians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. ==================== Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." Courage is not the absence of fear but it's taking action in the midst of it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A diamond is a chunk of coal that made good under pressure.
It's your heart, not the dictionary that gives meaning to your words. Matthew 12:34 (msg) version.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below you will find a few of my favorite websites or blogs. They have given me encouragement and challenged me on this journey.
Ann Voskamp's blog A holy Experience This image of a bleeding heart represents a journey of healing from brokenness to wholeness. Some of my favorite books: One thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Married over 46 years and entered into my 65th year of life.
I am a mother of two and grandmother of six and mom to two very spoiled kitties. I love to worship and encourage and of course write whenever I can find a topic or subject to share about.
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Thank you for visiting my blog.
I hope you find it encouraging and that it gives you
'Something to think about'. The vision for this is to challenge the reader into a new and different way of thinking. I appreciate and always value your comments. Having others walk alongside and join in the sharing is part of the process.
Thank you for joining me... on this journey. As we get encouraged ~ Lord help us to encourage others. "And the day came when the risk to remain a tight bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin my blog button The crosses are found on a beach at Winema Christian Camp on the Oregon coast.. a place to relax and find God in the process. My favorite place ....to rest and restore my spirit.
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