The beginning of any search begins usually with a direction one is going in, but the wise men journey was only search. Now the wise men story may seem like odd place to start but one must realize alot happened on the night Christ was born and not only the night he was born but the journey for earthly foster parents of Jesus. All we know is the wise men knew to follow the star. Did it dance or move to get there attention, no one knows, but the star moved across the sky. Most stars don't move unless it is a shooting star and then it does have a stop when it lands. It does not stop in the sky. This star or light was different then any other in the sky that night when the wise men first seen it in the east. It attracted them enough to load their camels up and say lets follow it and see where it goes. I am not one for stargazing because of my eye sight, but even i would be curious of this star. How many others may of followed it, we truly do not know, but it was there for anyone to see as it traveled to were the New King was born. It first stop for the wisemen was the palace and the king Herod in Jerusalem was unaware a new king had been born. It was enough that upon hearing the news he began his search by seeking all the priest and scribes. The location of the birth was told to be in Bethlehem of Judaea according to the prophets. Herod ask when the star appeared making great inquiry to see if you find him, let me know and i come and worship also.

How often in our own search of God we begin first inquiring of others. We inquire because we looking for how they learned about God, their view of God and may even been taught by others first hand about God in our search. Yet in truth we find following others only leads to religious rights and wrongs. It when we look for the evidence of God moving do we find what we are search for. One might wonder into the valleys and mountaintops looking for God, but in truth the evidence of God is not in the people of God, because in truth there is no perfect person. All people will fail you emotional, spiritually at some point, why because they know not what you truly are searching for. There motivates when you find what your looking for maybe to some how to destroy it. If you find love, someone will try to wedge a stone between you, either on purpose, or accidently not meaning too. If someone can put a wedge in your love for another you have to ask was there any love there. If loves sees past all the mistakes then is love there.

The wisemen were not in love with the star but wanted to know where it was going, and so they knew those at the palace might know, plus it seem to stop there. Upon inquiry the history and prophesy of old came to light to the King and wisemen. We need the teaching the history of faith to have faith, but we need the evidence as well. Wisemen were taught truth that night of where Jesus would be born, it was enough to go and seek this new king out even more once they had not found him yet. They left the palace headed they hope to Bethlehem because they still followed the star. One is going to follow the evidence of something new quicker then the evidence never seen. How many heard stories of old, but never believed until evidence came to be. If you told the story of hope and need hope then one might be spured to have hope in extreme situations, because of one story or testimony. Yet the search of a king seem unimportant in someways until you add a star that stopped and moved as if it knew where it was going.

It is in our own life we begin our search of faith following either our teachers or leaders the evidence of faith that comes through prayer of another and answer to it. The decision was it God or was it man. Many sought God during this pandemic some to find God and evidence of God in their life, while others only lead to the question why me Lord with anger arising in their hearts. King Herod part in today's lesson we leave with his curiousity about this child, but in a few lessons down the raod we will find out when those wisemen do not return Herod becomes angry. When people accept Christ they found the answer they hope would take care of the answer they sought in their heart. Others become angry because they understand what the heart of another learned about faith or God yet. We travel the road of faith in search, but do we find it, Is the evidence of God leading us to the final conclusiion enough to enable our faith to soar into obedience. We will discover the wisemen faith in their journey that the star was going somewhere important because of the prophesy of the star in yesterday lesson. Wisemen not of Jewish faith, but faith in astrology, psychology and science. Wise men looking for the evidence their ancestors really spoke to the God of the universe. That some how what they sought would come.

These wisemen from the east had the teaching of a star, gain the teaching of the priest and scribes and would learn the direction God was taking them was faith and trust in him. We can hear all the wonderful Bible stories but without seeking out God for ourselves we will never have a relationship with God. I can tell you all truth perhaps, but until you have evidence yourself of something God is doing in your own life, my words are empty. You might not see a star move across the sky leading you to a manger but to the cross. Yet I guarantee God will lead you to the feet of the Savior. From the hope and love of a new born baby to the question of why would Christ have to die. How many have asked on the news why did my love one have to die. Why did this huge number of people have to die and still be dying. It is a shock to the reality of our nation. Yet it even be more shocking in our history of the world in years to come that this even had to happen. That the nation could not move faster on a disease with all the technology in our world to seek out an answer. Yet the answer is simple there is only so many hours in a day. There disease we are still seeking answers to and can only treat symptoms of the problem, much less seek and find the antedote of all the diseases in the world. Everyone having to have their own study to confirm the first study. Yet the wise men only need two studies to know where the star was headed if it was the star of the king they were in search of.

Ever been on scavenger hunt to find anything. You hope to find what at the end of the search to be true, but you do not know without the keys to the direction you are to go. Without those keys and clues you know not where to search beyond there is a treasure out there. Some of the state parks in the USA have been have what called Geocaching. I have yet to go in search of anything and not sure I will, but the interesting thing is are you in search of the treasure or are you going to find the beauty of God's creation in the park. I can almost guarantee most trips will lead you to a beautiful location or interesting sight. Yet the object you find may not be so breath taking.

When we seek God our final step will be the loss of our breath to stand before him. Our seeking God is to receive the evidence he has provided for us the story of his Son, the evidence through prayer and the prayers of others being answer, especially when prayer was the only solution. Some people may sit in pews hoping to find their own spiritual need meet, only to not find evidence int he pew. Sometimes teaching alone is only part of the quest for answers of faith. Sometimes you need more. Sometimes that evidence is already present in your life, your only blinded by the teaching of faith to see the evidence all around you. Paul was blinded on the road to Damacus but the men heard the voice of Christ that day in his journey, but were not blinded too. In Damacus he did not know the stir of faith in those that lead him there. We never hear about those that traveled with Saul who name was changed to Paul. Paul had to wait for someone to come and pray for his healing. No one was sent for, only we know he was blind. God sent a man to Paul.

Are you to blind like Herod to see the evidence of the star in the sky that is moving in the right direction not to join those traveling towards Bethlehem. Sometimes the evidence is there though the proof of what is seen in scripture. If that proof then what. Maybe in time to ask for God to remove the blinders to his evidence. The evidence in his creation and events in our world. God's mercy is his provision in time of crisis, even when he has the power to heal. How many would have receive the healing and protection from cov 19 for a day if God just removed human error from the earth. The vaccine will be evidence of God's mercy for many years to come. God's mercy of providing man with the hope of a cure, a treatment and a vaccine. Miracles do happen, but God sometimes wants us to use what he gave us. It a hard lesson when many die without a miracle to prevent death. Jesus even said there will always be physicians. Let us ask what will man receive a Jesus or only the antedote the evidence of hard work, or the evidence of God's ability in the hands of the scientist, because he created them special with inquiring minds into our world.

Dear Heavenly Father as we seek you in our journey of faith, help us to jump aboard the carvan of camels head to see the new born king. The prophecy of truth coming alive in them as they see the star moving in the sky. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 2 Peter 1:19 KJV
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: