By Barnabas Willis
Executive Pastor

…and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:2

Can you hear the wonder in these words? “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” What is found in Matthew 2:2 aren’t just words–they’re an invitation, a beautiful declaration of spiritual longing that echoes across time and touches our hearts even today.

The context is rich with spiritual meaning. In a world of political oppression and spiritual drought, these foreign scholars dared to believe in a promise written in the stars. They weren’t bound by the limitations of their time or culture. Instead, they were willing to embark on a journey of faith, following a celestial signal that defied rational explanation.

The Magi weren’t casual observers. They were seekers – travelers who left everything behind, following a promise scribed on the big scroll in the sky. Can you imagine the conversations around their campfires? The excitement, the anticipation, the pure, childlike wonder of following a divine signal? They traveled hundreds of miles, driven by nothing more than a heavenly whisper and a deep, unquenchable hope.

Their question, “Where is the one?” is more than a geographical inquiry. It’s a spiritual declaration. In a world of uncertainty, they were seeking absolute truth. They weren’t content with religious routines or cultural expectations. They wanted an encounter with something, someone far greater than themselves.

Worship wasn’t a Sunday morning routine for them. It was a journey, a radical act of surrender. They didn’t know exactly what they would find, but they knew without a doubt that something magnificent was waiting. Their willingness to travel, to seek, and to worship challenges our sometimes comfortable, predictable faith.

This Christmas, I want to invite you to become a seeker. Look beyond the familiar. Follow that subtle, divine nudge that calls you to something greater. God is still speaking, still guiding, still inviting us into His remarkable story. Your spiritual journey is not about perfection but about genuine, heartfelt pursuit.

Gracious God, rekindle in us the spirit of the Magi – a holy curiosity, a childlike wonder, and a heart that’s willing to journey wherever Your love might lead. Transform our routine into radical worship.

Amen.