Worth pursuing…

The season of Advent is over, and we’ve recounted the Christmas story, but there’s a piece that lags behind, found in the second chapter of Matthew’s gospel. The visit of the Magi, sages from the East, who travel a significant distance because of the special star they noticed. Given the details of the story, we can deduce that Jesus was a child of two years old or less when the magi came to worship.

We don’t have a record of exactly how far or how much time their journey required, but we know it would have required substantial effort and finances. These folks were committed to do whatever it took to find and worship the new king.

This brought to mind the text from Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (NIV)

The efforts of the magi paid off. While they brought the gifts, they also received the reward. They met and worshiped the one, true, Messiah.

As we find ourselves on the doorstep of a new year and you give thought to what lies ahead, I encourage you to seek the Lord.

What might I do differently to seek the Lord more earnestly, more diligently this year?

This is a question I am also sitting with, in hopes that I might experience the reward of encountering the Living Messiah. May Jesus reward us with more of himself. May we be smitten as we engage the One who is the Word, Wisdom, and Light.

May Jesus become our source and goal… our everything, in a whole new way in 2026.

In the strong name of Jesus,

Pastor Nate