Be Like the Wise Men!

Have you ever noticed how life doesn't always turn out the way we plan? Sometimes circumstances don't always follow our plans. Often, it seems that life is nothing more than a series of shattered dreams. Take the Wise Men for instance, they had spent the last two years following a star (Matthew 2:7, 16).

To follow this star, they had left home and family behind. They had left their country and were now pilgrims. Along the way, they no doubt had to face perils and obstacles. They even found themselves in the presence of a king. Then, when they finally arrive at their destination, they find the star they have been following stops over a humble house, instead of a royal palace.

These men probably dreamed of finding the Messiah in a palace, this probably explains their going to Herod's first! I'm sure, at the very least, they expected luxury and a nice home. What they found did not match their dreams. They found the King of Kings, in the home of a peasant; probably nothing more than a shanty!

No doubt their dreams were shattered. Yet, amid the rubble of their torn and twisted dreams, these wise men found some things in that humble setting that changed their lives. Sometimes life has a way of shattering our dreams and destroying our hopes and plans

The topic of discussion for today is this: "What is it that wise men do differently that don't allow circumstances to turn their lives upside down?"

First, we can say that they wise men recognize God in the shacks of life!

Let's look at the context of the above illustration. It wasn't what they had expected, but they came to worship and worship they did! They saw God in that shack! They saw God in Jesus! When life shatters your dreams, your first duty is to find the Lord. If you are His, then nothing can happen in your life that He has not allowed (See: Job 1-2).

When your star leads you into a shanty, remember that God is doing one of three things:

1. Correction - (Hebrews 12:6; Revelation 3:19)

2. Instruction - He is trying to reveal Himself to you in a new way (Romans 8:28). (Also see: John 6 - Storms; John 6 - Hunger; John 6 - Fear) A few more examples are: Israel - Had they never faced anything that they did, they would never have known that He could see them through! Also, the men of Samaria - they believe because of what they had experienced (John 4:42).

3. Perfection - He is trying to mold you into His image. He desires a vessel that He can use and has chosen you as that vessel and He is getting you ready for service! Think about Moses - He could not have led Israel, until he first led those sheep in the desert! Dear friends, when your star leads to a shanty, look for God, He will be there!

Secondly, wise men render gifts in the shanties of life! I refer back to the illustration above. It would have been easy for these men to have turned around, packed up all they had and went home. After all, who would blame them? It hadn't turned out like they had planned. But, they didn't! They gave Jesus What was rightfully His. Hint: It was the significance of the gifts and the necessity!

When your star leads you into a shanty, or shack, that is the time to give! What would be most people's response to the shanty? Most people will stop giving when they get in that shanty situation. That is the wrong response! The way to get from God is to give to Him (Malachi 3:8-10; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:7). See also: 2 Corintians 9:1-9; Matthew 10:40-42; Matthew 25:34-40.

These wise men received back far more than they gave away. That is always the way with God. No man can ever out give Him. No very many try, but those who do find Him to be over abundant in His supply. The surest way to get a blessing is to be a blessing! Just look a the The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30.

Finally, wise men receive grace in the shacks of life! While they were there, the experienced two kinds of grace. First, they experienced saving grace. Secondly, they experienced sustaining grace. God saved them and then He directed their lives.

When our star leads to a shack, or shanty, we can expect to find God's grace in that hour of need (2 Corinthians 12:9). Life is seldom fair, nor what we think it ought to be. But, even when life lets us down, we can be sure that God never will (Hebrews 13:5; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 2:17-18)!

When our star leads to a shack, we can expect God to provide leadership and guidance for us (John 16:13)! As God's children, we are never alone and never without recourse. He will always make a way for us and will support us through the shacks, or shanties of life!

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Prayer:

O Lord, my God, to Thee pray
While from my bed I rise
That all I do and all I say
Be pleasing to Thine eyes. Amen

May God bless you,

Randi