Searching for Christmas

Prepare your heart for the holidays in this devotion with Heather Hart.

Bible Verse for Today

“Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Matthew 2:8

Devotion for Today

Searching for Christmas

They saw a star and they knew it was a sign. A sign of the promised messiah. The long-awaited king had been born, and they weren’t going to miss this. It was not just a once in a life-time opportunity, but a once in eternity opportunity. And they were wise enough to see it for what it was.

They gathered their things and began their westward journey. They were off to see the newborn King. Leaving everything they knew behind, they followed a star.

As I reflect on the wisemen this Christmas, I see so much wisdom in their journey. Hidden wisdom often overlooked. Before Jesus called His first disciples to leave their lives behind and follow Him, the wisemen did just that. Before Jesus called the rich young ruler to give up everything to follow Him, the wisemen did it voluntarily.

Now, I don’t know that they sold everything they had, but their hearts were obviously in it. They traveled a great distance, leaving friends, family, belongings, land, and who knows what else behind. But they didn’t leave it all, because they brought gifts fit for a king.

As I think back to what the wise men must have been thinking about that first Christmas, I have to also reflect on this Christmas. I have to ask myself, what am I following this Christmas? They followed a star and a prophesy that led them to Jesus. Sometimes I’m so busy chasing rabbit trails I don’t know which way is up. I’m not following anything except maybe a sloppily written to-do list.

When the wisemen passed through Jerusalem, Herod said to them, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”[1] Herod had no doubts that the wisemen would find what they were looking for. They were men on a mission.

Yet here I am, floundering around, hoping to make it through another day. So, I ask myself, what am I really searching for? What do I really want out of this holiday season? Do I want picture perfect memories and Instagram worthy pumpkin pies, or do I want more of Jesus? Because chances are we will find what we are searching for if we set our minds to it. But do we really know what our hearts desire?

What do you want to remember when you look back on this Christmas season? Share on X

[1] Matthew 2:8