Look Up! The Star of Peace Draws Near based on Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10 and 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Christmas season seems to start earlier every year. Christmas shopping is in full swing. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday have all come and gone. Many people are in pursuit of the perfect gift for loved ones and family and friends. Christmas cookies are being made and eaten. Christmas music is in the air. Stores try to outdo in each other in getting people to buy their products.

Christmas starts early because there are a lot of things to do. Decorations to put up. Parties to attend. Family members and friends to visit.

This Advent season we will focus on the pursuit of peace. Christmas peace can be thought of as a star. A five-pointed star. We will be looking at different parts of the idea of Christmas peace. We will start by looking at the top point of the star. The top point of the star will be for the pursuit of peace by having more and more possessions. The pursuit of possessions never ends. Many people are wanting to buy more and more things. The problem is more and more possessions will never truly give you peace in life.

God wants us to stop our endless pursuit of possessions. He tells us, “Enough!” In 1 Timothy 6:6-8 we hear these words, “6But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” Godliness, that is, looking to God for all of our needs is the way to be content and at peace in life. We brought nothing into the world and we will leave the world with nothing. Having food and clothing is enough. Having our basic needs met is enough. Thanking God for what He gives us each day is the way to peace and contentment.

A Lutheran pastor puts things in this way: [God is a watchful Father who sees us dashing off, gathering more and more, building up speed as we drive ahead. But He knows the dangers in our journey and snatches us up, saying, “Enough!” God is like a father watching his children slide down a snowy hill. They shoot down the hill on their plastic sleds, and it’s all wonderful. But at the bottom of the hill is a pond that hasn’t quite frozen yet. What’s a father to do but play goalie and catch each child before they reach the edge of the pond? His message is the same as our heavenly Father’s: “I know you want to go on and on, but you have no idea of the danger. Let’s stop right here.” So our heavenly Father stops us out of love and His knowledge of the dangers before us. The words of Paul fit perfectly: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). See how our Father catches us firmly before we plunge into ruin. But besides catching us, our heavenly Father also provides. He has already given us the food and clothing we need and many other things that fill our homes and garages. He could say, “There, you have what you need, so be content.” But beyond that, He gives us His Son, leading us by the light of the star.]

Proverbs 30:7-9 gives us some wise words to consider: “[7 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.]

The wise men from the east followed a special star. That star led them to the Prince of Peace. God helped them to understand the meaning of that special star. Instead of wanting more and more possessions, the wise men came with gifts to give. Their pursuit of peace caused them to follow the star until they arrived in Bethlehem. In Bethlehem they gave their gifts to the child who came into the world to save people from their sins and wrongs and the endless pursuit of possessions that do not satisfy us.

That star of Christmas leads us to the One who came to bring us peace and forgiveness and gracious favor. That Christmas star moves us to give to others out of the abundance God has blessed us with. That Christmas star gives us hope in a nearly hopeless world. That Christmas star gives us contentment in a world that never seems to be content.

Peace is a gift given by faith through the Prince of Peace born in Bethlehem around 2000 years ago. Peace is a gift that points us to the Savior who was given the name of Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins and wrongs. Peace is a gift that reminds of the Wise Men who followed the star to see the Savior with their own eyes in Bethlehem. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.