Shine bright

And so they left, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the East. When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs! It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshipped him They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him. (verses 9-11)

Read Matthew 2:1–12

It must have been amazing for the wise men to finally find Jesus. They travelled so long and so far searching for someone or something that would help them make sense of life. All their wisdom hadn’t provided them with the solution. They needed something more. Even though they didn’t know it, they needed Jesus.

Are there people you know who are searching to make sense of life in a similar way: friends, family members, perhaps even a partner or child? You can see them desperately grabbing at all life has to offer—money, pleasure, sex, power, possessions, knowledge—but still they know deep in their hearts that something is missing. They have a sadness that human solutions can’t heal.

The wise men had a star in the sky to point them to Jesus. What do your friends and family members have? The answer is you. Not just your words but also the way you live your life—the way you love, the way you forgive, the way you care for others. This is how you become a star pointing to Jesus, a real beacon of hope for all those still searching for something more. Jesus makes you shine bright.

Jesus, it scares me to think how important I can be in pointing others to you. What a responsibility. But what a privilege. Help me shine bright for you. Amen.

by Jonathan Krause, in ‘Living Water for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2001)

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