Matthew 1:12 “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.”

The wise men that come from afar intrigue me.  They are men of mystery.  I have read a lot of conjecture about where these men came from and who they might have been but does it really matter?  We know they are foreigners who study the stars.  They have some understanding of scripture; they ask Herod “where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?”  Regardless of their beliefs, the desire and need to come and see this king draws them in.  They open themselves to the divine presence of God from wherever their journey brings them. Verse 11 says they knelt down and paid him homage.  They present precious gifts to a king who does not rule their nation.  These foreigners hear our Lord, the God of Israel, the God of all, speak to them in a dream and they listen.  Throughout the bible God uses dreams to guide and speak to people.  How does God speak to you?  Are you open to receive and hear the Divine?  We have come to the stable and seen the precious babe but what do we do now?  As the days of Christmas begin to fade away, let us remember the guidance of God never fades.  Seek him and when you find him, open your heart to hear what he will say to you.

Lord,

Help us not only hear but truly listen to you.  You step into our lives and take our hands and hearts to lead us safely home, if only we would follow.  Close our ears to the voices of deception so we can clearly hear your true voice.  Thank you for guiding the wise men.  Thank you for guiding us.  Amen.