Responding to God’s Call
The story of the Magi in Matthew 2 invites us to reflect on what it looks like to notice and respond to God’s unique call in our own lives. These wise travelers from distant lands didn’t receive a direct word from Scripture or a visit from an angelic choir.
Instead, God met them through a sign in the heavens—a star. They were paying attention, noticed that something in their world had shifted, and chose to follow, stepping out in faith on a journey into the unknown.
God meets each of us in ways that fit our lives, sometimes through Scripture, sometimes through what’s happening around us, and sometimes through a quiet nudge in our hearts.
The invitation is simply to pay attention to these signs, whether they seem small or spectacular, and to respond by taking a step toward Jesus, trusting that He is already drawing near to us even before we begin our search.
Pressing Through on the Journey of Faith
The Magi’s journey was anything but easy or straightforward. They traveled a long way, crossed cultural and political boundaries, faced uncertainty, and risked being misunderstood.
Their path even led them through Jerusalem, where the very religious leaders who knew the Scriptures chose not to join their search.
In our own journey of faith, we also encounter obstacles, doubts, distractions, gaps in our understanding, or the feeling that we don’t quite fit in. The Magi remind us that persistence matters more than perfection.
We don’t need to have all the answers or the right credentials to draw near to Jesus. What matters most is a heart that’s willing to seek Him and to keep taking the next step, trusting that God will faithfully guide us along the way.
Seeking Christ in Unlikely Places
The Magi expected to find the newborn King in a palace or surrounded by splendor, but instead the star led them to an ordinary home. Jesus was not discovered in the temple or among the elite, but in the middle of family life and everyday routines.
It’s a beautiful reminder that God often meets us where we might never think to look, right in the ordinary moments of our homes, relationships, and daily schedules.
Epiphany invites us to watch for God’s presence not only in the big or dramatic moments, but in the simple spaces of our kitchens, garages, and sidewalks.
Christ came to live among us, not as a distant, untouchable deity, but as Emmanuel—God with us—woven into the very fabric of our daily lives.
Offering Our Best to Jesus
When the Magi finally found Jesus, their first response was simple, heartfelt worship. They knelt in His presence and opened their treasures, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Their gifts weren’t given out of pressure or obligation, but as a joyful response to meeting the Savior face-to-face.
In the same way, our giving to Christ—our time, talents, resources, and attention—naturally overflows from a real encounter with Him. The Magi didn’t bring their gifts to earn a place with Jesus, but to honor the One who had already drawn them near.
We, too, are invited to bring our best to Jesus, not as a requirement to belong, but as a loving act of worship in response to His generous grace.
Returning by Another Way
After meeting Jesus, the Magi returned to their own country by a different route. Their travel plans changed, but so did their hearts.
A true encounter with Christ never leaves us the same; it reshapes our priorities, redirects our paths, and renews our perspective.
This is the hope and promise of the gospel: that God comes close, not only so we can find Him, but so He can gently transform our lives from the inside out.
As we walk through this season of Epiphany, may we pay attention to the signs that lead us to Jesus, discover Him in unexpected places, and open ourselves to be changed by His loving presence.
If you’re seeking or longing for a fresh start, let the story of the Magi encourage you to keep pursuing Jesus with both persistence and joy.
To explore this further, we invite you to listen to the full sermon and join us in worship at New Covenant Church.