Following Wisemen
Dear God, as we journey through life, we often lose our way. We get caught up in the daily tasks of ministry and think it all depends on us. Help us to keep our eyes on you and remember that, through the gift of your Son you took all the burdens of life upon yourself. Help us to share the Good News and excitement of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Amen
Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring word so that I may also go and pay him homage. Matthew 2:8
In one scene of this year’s Children’s Christmas program at Zion, the wisemen were on their journey. The three very small characters walked to the end of the center aisle, then circled back to the front. Then, since this was a very long trek, they made another trip down the aisle and back. And another. “Wee Three Kings”, sang by the children’s chorus, was rather long, so the little kings kept circling and circling. About halfway through a little girl began to follow them. This two-year old trudged on and on as she kept pace. At one point she stopped, sighed and shrugged her little shoulders. Then she continued to follow, bringing a few chuckles from the congregation gathered there. She didn’t know where she was going, but felt compelled to keep on going!
How often in our journeys do we, like this little girl, stop and wonder why we do the things we do? Have you ever asked yourself if the ministry you do is relevant in today’s world? Why can’t others be as excited about this faith as we are? Why are the children not part of our Sunday morning ministries or our weeknight activities? Why don’t the parents’ care like they used to? But, like the wisemen in Matthew, we “search diligently for the child.” As Christians we know how the story ends; now it’s our call to share this Good News with others. And, like the little girl, we trudge on through the joys and frustrations, always knowing that God does lead us, and gives us strength and courage for the journey.