How do we seek Jesus? The story of the wise men can give us some direction. God used a sign in nature, the star, to get their attention. God often speaks in a language we understand. These men were astrologists, and God spoke to them through a star. God continues to speak to us through nature.
David wrote a song about seeing God in nature. Psalm 19: 1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. 4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. [1]
God can get our attention in a way we understand. It can be through nature, circumstances, or other people. He is always working to draw us closer to Him, but we must be attentive and willing to respond.
Go to Scripture as You Seek
God used the star to get the wise men’s attention. As they sought the newborn King of the Jews, they arrived in Jerusalem. There, the Jewish scholars were able to show them the Scriptures that pointed out Bethlehem as the Messiah’s birthplace.
As we study Scripture, we learn about the character of God. We learn of His promises for a Messiah, then of Jesus’ teaching and ministry. We realize that God promises us eternal life as we believe in Jesus. And we don’t have to wait until eternity to receive His blessings. These begin as soon as we believe and trust in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5: 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.[2]
Follow Through on Scripture
The Jewish scholars were well-versed in Scripture and quoted it to Herod and the wise men. Yet, the scholars failed to investigate whether the Messiah had been born. Unlike the Jews, the Gentile wise men acted on the knowledge from the Scripture. They went to Bethlehem, found Jesus, and worshipped Him.
We can be in awe of the signs God gives and know Scripture, but if we don’t live out our faith, we really don’t know Jesus. James 1:22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. [3] May you continue to seek Jesus. Find Him in the Scripture and then base your life on that knowledge. God will bless your seeking. How do we seek Jesus? For more information, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gift-of-seeking
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.