Passing Through 2013 Successfully

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' "7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Introduction:

The journey of the Magi from the East to Bethlehem to look for the Savior and the blessings He brings from heaven can be likened to our journey from 2012 to 2013. We all desire to go to 2013 and be blessed by it. How we go through the year successfully shall be the subject of today’s message.

1. Do not depend on your wisdom, past experience, ability, etc .

Wise men are smart guys, they know all things. Unwise people come to them for counsel for solution to knotty issues. Other kings came to see and experience Solomon’s wisdom. King of Babylon sought the counsel of Daniel.

With all their wisdom, the Magi could not locate the spot where little Jesus was to be found. They went to Jerusalem instead of going to Bethlehem. Their human wisdom failed them.

Math 2: 2…….Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Let us not depend on our human wisdom or experience in 2013 otherwise we will fail.

2. Depend only on God:

Before leaving their home in the East, God had given them a sign – a Star to guide them to where the Savior was, yet instead of diligently following the star, they depended on their human wisdom. They did not focus on the star consistently and so they ended up in Jerusalem instead of Bethlehem and in the palace of Herod for that matter. They are Wiseman; they ought to be smart enough to know that they needed to go straight to Bethlehem.

Math 2: 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

What happened? Obviously the star never left its place. The Magi simply did not carefully and patiently look for it.

By the time they realized their mistake they look for the star again and it led them to where the Savior was. Therefore in 2013 let us focus on God diligently so that we will not miss our way.

Prov 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psm 37: 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

Psm 125:1 those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

1John 1: 5 God is light, in Him there is no darkness.

Psm 119: 105, 130 His word is light to our feet

Psm 119: 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psm 119: 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.