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“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came
wise men from the east to Jerusalem”
(Matthew 2:1).
During the Christmas season, nearly every pageant will
include the “three” wise men. We don’t really know how
many “wise” men came from the East to worship the
new-born King; we just assume that since there were
three gifts mentioned that there were three men who
presented them. Some of what we include in our pageants
is a product of our imagination, but one thing we do
know—the Magi were wise! They came from a far place to
view and worship the King that they had been waiting
for. They chose to spend a great deal of their time
watching the heavens for His Star and to travel the
distance necessary to find Him.
They were wise when they harkened to the warning to
return home another way instead of returning to Herod
who sought the Baby solely for the purpose of destroying
Him. Herod was “otherwise” to think he could eliminate
the King who came to earth as an infant and grew into a
man who was willing to die for the sins of the world.
Satan thought he had Him cornered when Herod ordered all
the infants less than two years of age slaughtered
hoping this Babe would be among the slain children.
Adam and Eve chose to live by their wit, sense and
reason instead of following the wisdom of God who told
them to not partake of the forbidden tree’s fruit.
Satan’s appeal made them think it was reasonable and
sensible to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit.
They became “otherwise.”
Pharaoh recognized the wisdom of Joseph who worked his
way up in the ranks even in prison because he was wise.
Joseph was promoted to second-in-command of Egypt and
was able to save not only the Egyptians during the
famine but his own family as well.
Because Solomon asked for wisdom to rule his people and
not riches and honor, God gave him his request and then
added riches and honor. An incident concerning two
mothers proved his wisdom, when he ordered the disputed
child halved and each mother claiming it to each receive
a half. The real mother cried out at the decision and
wanted to just surrender the child to the other woman to
save its life. Solomon knew that would happen and
easily solved the problem and gave the child to its real
mother. A wise decision.
Mary was wise when she was
visited by an angel bringing a special mission for her.
She humbly listened as the angel unfolded her part in
God’s plan for the birth of the Savior of the world,
Jesus Christ. She kept in her heart all the wonderful
things she was told and observed the Child as He grew
into the Man who would be the Redeemer. Joseph was wise
when he chose to heed the message he received about his
pregnant bride-to-be and became the guiding
father-figure of Jesus on earth. He accepted the fact
that his Mary was impregnated by an overshadowing of the
Holy Ghost and would give birth to a very special Baby!
We send our children to elementary and high school and
then on to college or training to make them wise and
able to live independently. Many will achieve
great learning, but will not be wise in the ways of the
Lord God unless they follow Him and adhere to His
teaching. Sadly, education is failing our youth by
attempting to remove all traces of God in the education
system. Some “otherwise” professors and teachers
seem bent on destroying the faith-base of their
students. Those who would like to include God in
their curriculum are prohibited by their superiors who
succumb to the pressure of the godless “otherwise.” Wise parents will instill an unshakable
under-girding of faith in
their children from infancy until they are out of their
reach, so they will be established in the face of
anti-God pressures they are sure to encounter.
If there is a prayer that has high priority for a
Christian, it must be one that pleads for wisdom to
follow the Lord in total submission and obedience. That
prayer must surely make God smile and one He is eager to
answer and make us wise!
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask
of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth
not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).
It is not super intelligence and adeptly talented
persons God is looking for (though He delights in using
them when they are willing!). He is not looking for
ability so much as availability. Just because one is
able doesn’t mean he is pliable enough for God to use,
but one who is available can be made wise by God to
perform great things for His Kingdom. Sometimes, those
who are “wise in their own eyes” will not hear
instruction and be truly wise (Proverbs 3:7, 8:33).
Proverbs 9:9 also says if you teach a wise man, he will
even get wiser, increasing in learning.
“The law of the LORD is perfect,
converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple….A wise man will hear, and will
increase learning; and a man of understanding shall
attain unto wise counsels”
(Psalm 19:7, Proverbs 1:5).
When you celebrate Christmas in your home, community and
church this year, resolve to become wise as you seek the
King like the wise men of old who found Him and
worshipped Him. Be wise and increase in learning as you
face the new year which will bring trials, tests and
disappointments. The wise are prepared for
emergencies. We are told to be “wise as serpents”
watching out for the serpent, Satan, who wants to get us
off onto the “otherwise” track. We are to be wiser than
the serpent who seeks our destruction. Though wise, we
are to be harmless as doves, humble before the all-wise
God who wants to share His wisdom with us.
As harmless doves we are called to win souls. Do you
want God to call you “wise”? Then be a soul winner. A
very wise man, Solomon, said to win souls is wise
(Proverbs 11:30). When a new soul is won, God has joy
“in the presence of the angels” (Luke 15:10). His joy
must surely be toward both the wise soul winner and His
new child.
Jesus likened a wise man, who built his house on a rock
instead of the sand, to those who heard and did the
things He said. He went on to say that those who were
wise and faithful would be promoted to greater things.
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant,
whom his lord hath made ruler over his
household….Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when
he cometh shall find so doing” (Matthew 24: 45, 46).
Of course, He means those who are humbly wise because
they trust in Him, not those who are wise in their own
eyes, which breeds arrogance.
“Otherwise” enemies that refuse to accept God’s offer to
become His wise friends will become His footstools!
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at
my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1).
Would you like to give Jesus a gift for His birthday
celebration? Where would you look for a marvelous gift
for Him? You can’t find it anywhere at the finest
stores. In fact, just look in the mirror and see the
gift He wants! He gave His all for us; should we not
give Him our best gift? His gift is perpetual,
liberally and freely given.
Not only does He want to receive each of us
individually, He wants the nations of the world
corporately to honor Him and receive His blessings.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the
LORD…” (Psalm 33:12).
During this memorial of the birth of Jesus, as you give
Him your gift, pray that our nation will turn and
acknowledge that “God is the LORD” and honor Him instead
of trying to evict Him from the nation’s institutions.
“Happy Birthday, Jesus!”
“We present ourselves wrapped in your righteousness,
tied with a bow of Love for You on this special day set
aside to honor Your humble birth and glorious
exaltation.”
”Now the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace…”
(Romans 15:13).
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
~~Delores~~
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