Matthew 2:1-2, "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who was born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

Think

Matthew's focus is immediately on foreigners coming from the east to worship Jesus. But this fact should not be a surprise. The prophet Isaiah wrote centuries earlier regarding the Messiah, "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." (Isaiah 60:3) The wise men had come to worship this king of the Jews. These first worshipers were court magicians, astrologers, not from Israel but from the east, perhaps from Babylon. They were Gentiles and as such, unclean. Yet Matthew records these Gentiles as the first in his gospel to bow before Jesus. God guided foreigners to Christ to worship him. Clearly, it is God's aim that all the nations worship Jesus, his Son. This universal worship is true for everybody, including those in your place of work, in your neighborhood and in your home. The question is are you God's star that rises in your environment that causes others to seek Jesus?

Act

Write down the names of people in your place of work, neighborhood and home that need to confess Jesus as Lord. Beside each name, write what you can do to be the light of Jesus to these individuals. Get specific and act today!

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you that I can be a light for Jesus wherever I am. Today, let his light shine through me to (names of those on your list). In Jesus' name, Amen.