Stars in our Eyes
In my Heartlight.org post this week, “Star Bright,” I talk about the Magi (or Wise Men) who come from the east and worship Jesus. They undertook a long and difficulty journey to honor the newborn King of an enemy nation. They did this at great personal cost and risk. Yet these astrologers — astrology was a practice prohibited in both the Old and New Testaments for being associated with witchcraft — found their way to the manger where Jesus was born so they could worship Him. Meanwhile, Herod used the prophecies about the Messiah’s birth in the Old Testament to determine where the Messiah would be born so he could kill the child, Jesus. Herod saw this child as a rival to his control and sought to kill him, just as he did with two of his own boys who he feared would threaten his rule.
This story is a reminder of how easily we can use Scripture for ungodly means if we lose sight of it’s purpose and the basis of which we interpret it. A few questions seem in order to help us avoid misusing Scripture:
How can we get so far off base in our religious practice that we would reach the point of killing Him because He challenged us in areas where we were comfortable and didn’t want to be disturbed?
How do I use Scripture?
Am I using it to seek after God?
Am I reading Scripture to know God and not just know about God?
Am I listening to Scripture to obey it and honor God, or simply to justify what I do?
The key point is to remember that the center of Scripture and the key to understanding Scripture is a hunger and faith for Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15; cf. John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:1-3).
So how do we keep Jesus at the center of our lives?
How do use Scripture as a Holy blessing, but not worship Scripture and lose sight of the character and compassion of Jesus?
Phil,
Just yesterday I preached a sermon on the Magi and found a few of the exact same applications and points you wrote this morning in your entry for heartlight. That\’s kind of exciting to me.
My sermon should soon be posted on the henderson blvd church of Christ podcast, if it isn\’t already there. I mentioned some additional ironies in the story you didn\’t write about, but probably have thought about.
May we all follow what light we are given light to the source of all light – Jesus, Light of the World.
Ralph Walker
Ralph
29 Dec 08 at 8:15 am
Phil,
You’re point is well taken and stikes home to me, about how we use scipture. I’ve been thinking lately, about all this talk of the end times and coming rapture. Though I desire to be with my Lord, I can’t help but wonder about the dangers of focusing on the goal…I read recently about goal setting and focus in relationship to mountain climbing. Though a climbers goal is to summit, his or her focus and energies are directed to each step of progress. I believe that parallels our walk with Christ.
Satan in using our desires to misdirect our focus from seeking perfection in ourselves as we climb the mountain to the summit and sit with our Lord.
Blessings,
David
David
29 Dec 08 at 9:08 am
Phil,
First, I enjoy your writing …
You leave us in this article with two questions:
++So how do we keep Jesus at the center of our lives?
++How do use Scripture as a Holy blessing, but not worship Scripture and lose sight of the character and compassion of Jesus?
As a pastor who ministers in the “liturgical-historical” portion of the Body of Christ, I find the answer to those questions quite easy. The key is to realize that for the Hebrews of the Old Covenant and the Christians of the New Covenant, the Scriptures (sacred writings) were not read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested in isolation. The Scriptures for them were part of a spirit-breathed dynamic of life (“culture” or “way of life”)… This pattern or “Way” includes consistent and faithful: liturgical prayer, the Holy Mysteries, fellowship, ministry, and witness. Each of these have a personal and communal expression.
Under the Lordship and guidance (continually yielded with a right heart and allowing the Lord to make one’s heart right when it isn’t) of the Holy Spirit in this context — that HE has instituted — we can fruitfully answer your two wonderful questions not as problematic but a hopeful challenge at the very core of the Christian journey.
God Bless,
Fr. Thomas
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God,
hath shone forth the light of wisdom upon the world;
for therein those who worship the stars
have been taught by a star
to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness,
and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on
high.
O Lord, glory be to Thee!
Nativity Troparion
frthomas
31 Dec 08 at 8:39 am
May your life be filled with happiness as you daily experience the blessings of God in the New Year!
Bill Williams
Bill
1 Jan 09 at 1:11 pm