I have been thinking a lot about the shepherds and the wise men in the Christmas story this week. These were ordinary men going about their days and God chose to reveal Himself to them in the most incredible way. But they had to be paying attention. The wise men were studying the stars and knew what to be looking for. So, when the star of David appeared, they knew it was from God and had the courage to follow it and witness the greatest revelation of God in history.
At this point God had been quiet for 400 years with no major revelation from a prophet or miracle recorded. Now if I was one of the magi and God has been silent for 400 years, I might be thinking that He's going to break that silence with a grand entrance. If He's going to reveal Himself to the world, I would think He is probably going to do it by opening the sky with trumpets blaring. But the magi found that He chose instead to reveal Himself in a quiet manger in Bethlehem.
And this is what I've been reminded of this week. The same God who reveals Himself by parting the Red Sea or taking down the walls of Jericho, also reveals Himself in a manger to magi who were paying attention to the details of their everyday life. They were going about their normal day/night and saw the most miraculous event in history. And this week I've been reminded to do the same. To be on the lookout for God in the small ways. How is the same God who revealed Himself in the burning bush revealing Himself today in the falling snow or the dirty dishes? I'm always expecting the big and grand, but maybe it's smaller and quieter this Christmas. Can I be like the magi and actually pay attention and watch?
I heard of this couple who used to ask each other every day, "How did you see Jesus today?" I like the question because it implies that Jesus is constantly revealing himself, if only we have the eyes to see. So, let's be like the wise men this week and keep watch. Be expectant for Jesus to reveal himself in the small things. And take up the invitation like they did, 2000 years ago, to witness the greatest revelation of all.
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