A Star Shining Bright
Last week we used my friend Richard’s song to get us in a Christmassy mood! This week I want to share a Christmas song that I wrote some time ago, called Born in Bethlehem. This is how it starts:
There’s a star shining bright in the heavens tonight
Glowing from afar in the east
And it shines high above on the wings of God’s love
Bringing hope, bringing joy and bringing peace
The Star as God's Sign
We all know that when Jesus was a baby, a star in the east shone in the sky and led the wise men to come and worship Jesus. Now, way back in Numbers 24:17 we read that "a star will come out of Jacob". It seems likely that the shining star pointing to Jesus baby Jesus, fulfilled this prophecy.
Of course, the star itself didn't bring God's hope and joy and peace. Jesus did. The star was just a sign that Jesus would bring these things, so perhaps the wording in my song is a little clunky. We don't worship a star do we? No, we worship Jesus. The star is just a sign that Jesus had come.
Beyond the Seasonal Symbols
Many people who put up Christmas trees in their homes over December will put a star at the very top, calling this moment to mind. Now, here's the question: is the star going to lead us to worship this Christmas? Or is it just something pretty to look at and enjoy?
I imagine that many people saw that star, but few worshipped. And at Christmas time, it's all meant to point us to Jesus so we can worship, but few do. We can so easily get caught up in the shiny things of Christmas, and forget that it's all meant to point us to Jesus to worship.
Christmas gifts? Reminding us of the greatest gift: Jesus Himself. Christmas food? Reminding us that Jesus alone can satisfy. Christmas lights? Reminding us that He is the Light of the world, and darkness can't overcome.
The star shining bright that day pointed to the baby Jesus, so that the wise men could go and worship. Friends, as Christmas unfolds this year, don't miss what it's all pointing to. It's not about the star, or the stuff. It's about Jesus.
