DAY 14

BLINDED BY THE LIGHTS

Lights have become an integral part of Christmas celebrations around the world.  For those who do not know the meaning of Christmas, it may seem that this holiday is a festival of lights.  The use of lights during this season reminds us of the star that guided the magi in their quest to find the one born king of the Jews.

I want you to consider this thought for a moment. The magi traveled a great distance because they understood the sign of the star.  What if they had looked up into the night sky and saw that beautiful star but were unmoved by it.  What if they had merely admired its beauty but did not heed its message.

The chorus of “We Three Kings of Orient Are” says:

O star of wonder, star of night,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect light.

The star was a guide sent to the magi to lead them to the perfect light.  That is, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.  In Matthew 2:2 the magi say, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Then in Matthew 2:9- 11 we read,

“And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.  Then opening their treasures they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

This Advent season, do not be blinded by the beautiful lights of Christmas and miss what they point to.  Christmas is not the ends.  It is the means to carries us to the place where we can remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE

By John Hopkins

We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign. [Refrain]

Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high. [Refrain]

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]

Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain]