God is Calling: A New Direction

Many days after Jesus’ birth, a group of Magi arrived.

These Magi were wise men of their people.

Likely high class because of the privilege they had to spend their days learning.

Their learning seemed to included astrology, numerology, and religion.

They were from the east, beyond Israel; likely Arabians.

For those who value astrology, signs in the heavens indicated something or someone important.

The Magi asked who was the new king of the Jews .

They knew the Jewish people.

They knew some things about the prophecies of the Coming One.

They honored the Jewish tradition and wanted to honor the new king.

Of course, where do you find a newborn king? In a palace.

Herod the Great was the current client king in Judea, in service to Rome.

Herod’s job was to keep the population under control, whatever way that was necessary

Herod was disturbed by the possibility of their being a new (legitimate) king that might challenge his stature.

The chief priests would not and could not participate in this moment of joy.

They put their trust in what little political power and influence that they had under Herod’s rule.

The chief priests and teachers of the law would rather compel others than do the difficult work of convincing others of the truth.

This new kind was not found in the palace.

Herod met with the Magi in secret asking for them to tell him where the newborn king was.

On the surface, Herod’s request seemed respectful, but underneath his paranoia motivated him to compel the Magi to serve his interest.

When we can’t convince, often we try to compel.

Often, we don’t want to make the effort to convince others of a good thing. We think they should just know understand it/them like we do.

People don’t want to be told what to do, they usually resist because they want to feel like they chose to do something for themselves.

It is much more difficult to convince others. It causes us to have to listen deeply to what connects people together. We feel drawn to each other in those connections.

Convincing other to trust takes time and continual effort.

The Magi may have gone on their journey to pay their respects to the new king, but God had a greater purpose for them.

The Magi might have started their journey with their agenda to honor the new Judean king, but God gave them the larger role of honoring his Son.

Jesus was not to be found in a palace.

But, neither was he left in a stable.

The Magi became convinced that Herod would seek out Jesus in order to kill him

In the same way that they were drawn to follow the star to find Jesus.

The Magi were Gentiles who were drawn to honor God.

They did not choose to believe first, and then were drawn by God.

In Jesus, the church was drawn together from Jews and Gentiles who humbled themselves before God who called out to them.

It was their humility, being convinced of their inability to save themselves, that they were moved to confession and forgiveness.

Acts 8:14–17 NIV

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Like the Magi, we must travel on our journey with a caravan of friendship and support.

Like the Magi, God calls us to a new direction for an infinitely greater purpose: drawing others to new life full of grace.

God drew the Magi, God drew his disciples, and now, God draws us together.

Each of us was drawn to God in a different way, so, it is the same with others.

We need to be open and welcoming to all who are called by God, whether they look or act like us.

Since God does not compel us to serve him, no compelling on our part can make others believe in God.

If we sound like Christ and act as Christ, with love and grace, others may well be convinced that there is something to this full-hearted faith.