My husband surprised me with a trip to Sight and Sound a couple of years ago. I had this event on my “hearing” bucket list for a while, and I was excited!
I was even more enthusiastic about it because they were showing Daniel. Daniel has always been one of my favorite books in the Bible.

Daniel has always inspired and encouraged me. In my reading of Daniel, his perseverance, strong faith, and commitment to his relationship with God have spurred me to cultivate those qualities in my life.

We had the most amazing time! It was a sweet time together, and the experience of watching this performance was beyond anything I had ever had before. Even my husband, who is not as excited about plays and performances, loved it!

Of course, I had to grab something to remember this experience. While we walked around the gift shop, nothing was standing out until I glanced over at the mugs; my eyes landed on this particular one.

It says, “Shine like stars in the heavens.” I love visuals, and as I pondered those words and what they meant, I wanted that reminder always before me. So I bought it to bring home.

A CHRISTMAS STAR

This Christmas season, I have been reading about another star.

Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, magi from the east arrived, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him. When Herod the King heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea: for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH, FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'” Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me so that I too may come and worship Him.” After hearing the king, they went their way, and the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house, they saw the child with Mary, His mother, and they fell to the ground and worshipped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi left for their own country by another way.

 There is so much in this text and I will go into more in my YouTube video this week, so don’t miss going deeper there. For now I want to focus on the star and its purpose.

God put this star in the sky to lead people to Jesus. This bright star led the wise men on their journey to find Jesus. Reading this scripture this year seemed to lead me in a different direction than in past years. I was drinking my tea in my mug that I brought home from that performance of Daniel, and as I pondered those words written on the mug once more, something connected for me.

Just like that bright star that God put in the sky that night that led those wise men to Jesus, when I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus in my heart as Lord and Savior, His Holy Spirit came to live inside me. The light of Jesus is in me because He is there.

ETERNAL STARS

“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God and not ourselves. (NLT)

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NASB)

If you have repented, believed in Jesus, and confessed Him as Lord and Savior of your life, you have His light inside you. God put that light there that others may see the good works He does through us, that HE may be glorified, and people would be led to Jesus.

It’s incredible!

I LOVE looking at the stars at night, so much so that I even got a projector recently so I can feel like I am under the stars in my room. I LOVE even more that I can be a bright star that shines the light of Jesus in my life, leading someone who is seeking and searching for Him, even if they don’t know they are looking for Him.

“Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. Daniel 12:3

What a beautiful picture here!

As we live in a way that shines His light through us, leading others to Jesus, we have the promise of shining like the stars forever.

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to this earth. Thank You for putting that star in the sky so He could be found by those wisemen. Thank You for those in our lives who have been bright stars leading us to Jesus. May Your light shine brightly through us so that those who are seeking and searching will find You. Thank You for the blessing of the promise that, as we live and shine for You, we will eternally shine with You beyond this life. Thank You for the hope that comes with that promise. We love You and we worship You as the one true God in our lives. In Jesus’ Name! Amen!