An Unexpected ChristmasSample

Day 11: A Crew of Foreign Scholars

In 1857, John Henry Hopkins wrote both the music and lyrics to “We Three Kings.” It would become the first well-known Christmas carol written by an American. In it, he depicts the wise men (also called “Magi” or sometimes translated as “kings”) making their way to see Jesus with the help of a particularly bright star.

We three kings of Orient are

Bearing gifts we traverse afar

Field and fountain, moor and mountain

Following yonder star.

Oh, star of wonder, star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading, still proceeding

Guide us to thy perfect light.

Notice the last line of the chorus: Guide us to thy perfect light. The irony is obvious… they are crying out to a bright light in the sky to lead them to the perfect light. 

It is widely accepted that the Magi were considered experts in astrology. God used their area of expertise to guide them to Jesus. 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1–2)

These men, who spent their lives studying the stars, knew this star meant something. “We saw his star when it rose.” They knew it was God’s star when they saw it.

God could have used an angel, a burning bush, or some other miracle to get his message to the Magi. But in this case, he used their particular skillset—knowledge of the stars—to make himself known.

God delights in revealing himself to us. Many times, he uses the characteristics that make us unique to do so. Your background, wiring, and areas of interest all contribute to make you, well, you. And your heavenly Father can use that uniqueness to connect with you in a way that comes naturally to you.

What is a way God made you unique? How is he using that to reveal himself to you?