Are You Walking the Road of Obedience?

January 06, 2023

By Brooke Holt

“After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11

Take a moment to reread the passage above again, then consider the plight of these wise men. They have seen a star and are to travel many miles to find the baby born king of the Jews. This is all the information given to them. And remember, these wise men have no cell phones or GPS navigators to follow – just a star.

Nevertheless, they go. While there are no definitive records of how far these men travelled, historians speculate that it took around two years to get there. Some believe they travelled as far as 1,000 miles while others believe it was more like a few hundred miles. Either way, it was a long and likely tumultuous trip that required an intense commitment to the journey.

While nothing was guaranteed upon their departure nor was the way made perfectly clear, these men set out to follow the star. Despite the many miles and challenges they faced along the way, these men found what they were looking for, and they were so overwhelmed that they fell down and worshipped the child.

The Lord may not have been specific, but he was faithful to guide them and make the way before them. Just as the Lord was faithful to these men, he will be faithful to you today. Where has he called you to go, or what has he called you to do? The faith journey of obedience may not be easy, yet the one who called you will be faithful to make the way before you.

Reflection:

Are you obeying the Lord’s call on you today – trusting that where he guides, he will also provide? It may not be easy, but his ways are always good. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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Let's face it, the Christian life is hard. Relationships take work. Christians forget. Sometimes it is tempting to go back to the days when God was not the center of our lives - to backslide. We are all faced with tremendous pressures to drift away from intimacy with Jesus and the community of the Church. However, the Lord invites us to pay attention, to move forward, to draw near, and to live lives of worship. Draw Near: Hebrews on Christian Worship is a small group Bible study on the Book of Hebrews intended to lead participants into a deeper intimacy with the living God in the context of New Testament worship. Draw nearer to God in authentic worship today!