Five Lessons At ChristmasSample

## Magi: Obedient Adventurers Ironically, the "east" these star-following wise-men probably came from was the area of Babylon and Persia (which was (in)famous for its astrologers and where horoscoping comes from). It was about the Babylonians that the prophet Isaiah wrote: Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. (Isa.40:26) These Magi were attentive to the signs that were visible in nature and, instead of exploiting nature's signposts for their own ends, they were simply obedient to what they heard and saw. Imagine packing up and heading off on a long and dangerous journey just to follow a star! (If you haven't read TS Elliot's "Journey of the Magi" you should read it after this...) The Magi were not only obedient to God's prompting, but they were courageous enough to head off on an adventurous journey and gutsy enough to defy Herod's wishes. What would the modern day Magi look like today? And how could we be like them? Firstly, I think we need to be sensitive to the "signs of the times" - not astrology  - but rather a being sensitive to what God might be doing in our world. Seeing that which others overlook. The writer of Chronicles talks about the men of men of Issachar, "who understood the times and knew what Israel should do..." (1Chron12:32) Secondly, we need to be sensitive and obedient to the cues of the Spirit and responsive to the signs and needs that God is drawing our attention to. We need to be willing to go and willing to be prompted. The Magi followed the star's guidance, but also listened to the dream they had about Herod. But their greatest sensitivity is shown in the gifts they bring: Gold symbolising Jesus' kingship, Myrrh which anticipated Jesus sacrificial death and Frankinsense which pointed to His role as our priest. Thirdly, we need a courageous adventurousness that would take us into the unknown and uncharted, just because we believe that we will find what God is doing there and that we would do it with a sense of worshipful extravagance!