Saturday, December 22, 2012

The Ninth Day of Christmas: The Star


The star. The star that shone so brightly that wise men followed it. The star that led these wise men to Jesus and his family. The star that, well, plays a big part in the modern retelling of the Christmas story.

Does it really have to do with us? I mean, the thing did shine, like, over two thousand years ago! Can it really affect our lives two thousand years later??? These were kinda my thoughts when I felt God lay this post on my heart. I mean, what am I supposed to write about?

Well, yes, the star does apply to our lives. It applies to our attitude and actions, as a matter of fact.


The star can help us examine our attitude. While the star was not a living object, I think we can apply it. You see, if we want to shine radiantly like the star, we have to have the right attitude. We must be filled with the Spirit to shine for the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit, which we already talked about this Christmas season, are listed in Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. What we haven't talked about yet are the stuff we gotta get outta the way to shine. We must avoid the fruit of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21 says,

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

Long list! And we can't do it on our own. We must do it through Him.

I've been focusing alot on this subject in my posts. But it's important.


The star also helps reveal what actions we must take. The star didn't just shine in a one-mile radius! No, the star had to reach pretty far. Even uncomfortably far. Even so, we must reach out, and not stay in our little bubble. Reaching out means we must act. We must act out of the Spirit, and act out of love. If we act out of strife, our actions will be pointless. Literally. When we act out of the Spirit, we share the gospel with others. God's Word is like a double-edged sword, and it will do its job! But when we act out of strife, we are basically throwing a plunger at a brick wall. Not gonna work!

The star also led people to Christ. When our attitude and actions are in line, people notice. And what's better than leading someone to Christ? That should be our goal, to glorify God by helping others who are blinded and deceived. If they choose to accept the light of the truth, then they will secure their eternal life. What a great thing to lead someone to do!

So, as we think of the star, we should remember how it relates to us, and how it relates to our relationships to others.


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