Shining Star

Matt. 2:1 - Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 

Matt. 2:2 - Saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star at its rising and have come to worship Him. 

Note from the Recovery Version Bible 

The Jews had the Scriptures concerning Christ. The magi from the east saw Christ’s star (Num. 24:17). The Jews had mental knowledge in dead letters concerning Christ, whereas the magi received a living vision concerning Him. After receiving the living vision, the magi were misled by their human concept and went to Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish nation, where its king was presumed to be. Their being misled caused many young boys to be killed (v. 16). After the magi were corrected by the Scriptures (vv. 4-6), they went to Bethlehem (vv. 8-9), and the star appeared to them again and led them to the place where Christ was (vv. 9-10). 

Last Lord's day in our Hindi meeting we read and fellowshipped on Matthew 2. As I ministered the word to the saints, the living word flowed forth like a river when the speaking of the Lord was on following the shining star that leads to Christ. 

The magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, but the shining star definitely did not lead them to Jerusalem, for Jesus was not born there. The star led them from their Locality in the east all the way and they followed faithfully until the vicinity of Bethlehem. But as they journeyed nearby the city of Jerusalem their human wisdom was applied and they stopped following the shining star. It was indeed humanly wise to reckon that the king of the Jews would indeed be born in the King's Palace in a kingly city of Jerusalem. But they were foolishly mistaken in their human wisdom, which led them to Herod, the king. 

Now that they had spilled the bean, Herod became aware of such a tragic news. Their human wisdom ignited the jealousy and wrath of the king that ultimately led to the murder of innocent babies, two years and under. That was how wise they were, when they stopped following the shining star. 

Spiritually, that is how many Christians follow the Lord. The shining star is the Lord Jesus Christ as the life-giving Spirit dwelling in the human spirit. The Spirit is the shining star that Christians must follow steadfastly and faithfully all the way to the end. Alas, many have began well in their Christian walk by following the Spirit, but only to a certain point. Then they apply their human wisdom and trust in their own human understanding and discernment rather than the Spirit. And the result is, a total mess, invoking the wrath of the enemy and leading to the "murder of innocent babies", resulting in sufferings, pains and woes. This often is my spiritual experience too. And the saints to whom I ministered this words are suffering the same pain as they left the Lord and the fellowship of the brothers in the church for few years. 

But still there is a reason to praise the Lord. The star did not disappear due to our folly, it waited and waited to be followed on, the Spirit still waits until we turn back to Him for His further leading. 

Matt. 2:9 - And after they heard the king, they went their way, and behold, the star which they saw at its rising led them until it came and stood over the place where the child was.Matt. 2:10 - And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.Matt. 2:11 - And they came into the house and saw the child with Mary His mother. And falling down, they worshipped Him; and opening their treasures, they offered gifts to Him, gold and frankincense and myrrh.Matt. 2:12 - And because they had been divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed by another way to their country. 

Finally, as they continued to follow the shining star, it led them to where Jesus was born. The result, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy! Whenever we follow the Spirit the issue always is life, peace,  and joy!

Though we fail often trusting in our own understanding and wisdom, the Spirit is always there waiting for us to turn to Him. Whatever mistakes we might have committed in the past, we must leave them behind. Now, turn to the Spirit and continue to follow Him, on and on, until the end, to meet the Lord and rejoice. And remember finally, the magi did not turn back to meet Herod again. So do not make the same mistake of the past but continue to follow the Spirit all the back to where the Spirit led us. 

I myself enjoyed the Lord's speaking even though I happened to be the human speaker. The saints were all supplied as they testified thereafter. Later, in another home meeting, the Lord led me to minister the same burden to people of my father's age, and they were supplied too. 

Lord, grace me to follow Your Spirit, the shining star,  all the days of my life. If by human wisdom I fall short, restore me by Your mercy and lead me on to follow Thee to the end, never to deviate and repeat history.