Looking for signs....

 Numbers 24:17  I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near

Matt. 16:2-3  You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.  A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given except the sign of Jonah.

Heavenly Father,
Looking for signs, failing to see them.  The old Testament was full of prophesies pertaining to the Messiah who would come in the future.  I think the fact that the Jewish people failed to recognize the Messiah when he came is very indicative of how little "signs and wonders" really mean to us.  When you wait for something "great" but "vague" in a future time of no date, it is easy to begin to not really expect it to ever happen.  It is also easy to dress that vague image up in your own expectations and miss it if it looks differently.

  Any time faith is involved---something we have to trust God for---we become afraid of seeing too much in an event or too little.  The Jews had waited 100's of years for their Messiah.  In their minds he would surely be like Moses, a great leader to take them out of captivity and free them from the Romans.  He would be a king like David since he was promised from the royal line!   Instead a humble unknown carpenter shows up with a rag-tag group of disciples---fishermen!  tax collectors!  women!

 The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted Jesus to "show them a sign from heaven".  Prove to their satisfaction, beyond any shadow of a doubt who he was.  What possible sign do you think they would have accepted?  If they had stood on the Mt. of Transfiguration and seen Moses and Elijah, would they have believed?  If they had heard the voice of God thunder, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him!", would they have listened?  Would it have prevented the cross---the very thing that had to happen?

We too, look for signs and wonders to ease our doubts.  How often do we say, "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near."?  Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, Bright Morning Star---he is here, he is now!  Why do we wait and question the very Light of Life that has come to save us?  Thank you, Bright Morning Star!  amen.

Bright Morning Star.....

 
 Matthew 2: 1-2  "We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him."
Rev. 22:16  "I am.....the Bright Morning Star."

Heavenly Father,
"We have seen his star.....and have come to worship him."  Everyone who sees the great light of Jesus Christ comes to worship him.  His light stands out brightly in whatever dark circumstances we know.  Nothing in our life is too dark for the Light of Jesus Christ to dispel that darkness forever.  When we allow his Light of Life to shine on us, we see how dark it has been and never want to go back.

  In Ann Spangler's book, "Immanuel: Praying the Names of God through the Christmas Season", she refers to light therapy and how light boxes are used to dispel the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder, which causes depression in those who are sensitive to the need for light in the winter months.  The whole world is suffering from a spiritual form of this disease.  We live in darkness brought on by sin and its resulting death.  We may function in this darkness, but in each of us there is a spirit/soul that craves light.  We were designed to long for the peace and harmony found in our Father God, who is also depicted as Light in scripture.  We need that light to light us up from the inside out.

 The world's darkness causes stress, unhappiness, dissatisfaction, unease, depression, restlessness, a constant sense of "what's next?....isn't there more then this?"  The most contented people I know still show signs of this feeling that this life is not enough---"I'm not really satisfied".  Christians know that the Light is there to save them.  Christians are drawn to the great Light of the world.  Our feelings of dissatisfaction have a cure and we know it is coming.  We live on hope and feel blessed because our darkness has an answer---the Bright Morning Star is coming!  Jesus saves!  Immanuel, God with us!  From the first moment we follow the Star and come to worship him, the Light shines within us and brings peace. Thank you , Light of the world!  Shine, Jesus shine!  amen.