To Be...Rerouted

December 29-30

This year we spent Christmas in New Orleans with our son and daughter in law. Her father is from there and it was such a delight to get to see this city from a local's perspective.  While the trip down encountered quite the delay, we were fortunately not rerouted.

I'm still in "studying the Christmas story" mode.  Matthew 2:7-12

"Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."

These "wise men" from a far, listened to the prompting from their dream, an amazing star encounter, and the joy that brought them to their knees in worship and turned from a king's instructions rerouting themselves home.   

What is it you have "turned away from" in life's path over the years; times you've been led or tempted to reroute your course?  All of us have faced the temptation of turning away from Jesus to seek the world.  I'm so thankful there is always a way back to Christ.  Just as my grandchildren have been running in the door to my open arms, Jesus' arms are always open and waiting to draw us in.

There are those times God directs the reroutes and they are inconvenient and disappointing, but as time goes on we can see God's handprint all over the process and we capture an understanding of Romans 8:28.  (God working all things together for good for those who love Him.)

An unnamed She Reads Truth writer wrote this about the wisemen being rerouted in relation to the Matthew passage.  This was definitely a God directed reroute.

"This is what happens when imperfect people witness the divine nature of Christ.  By His light, we are rerouted, never to be the same again.  The Messiah in the manger was not the sort of king God's people had expected. Nevertheless, He was the Father's plan to change the course of humanity, and ultimately, rescue the hearts and souls of all who would believe in Him.  May we do the same.  May we turn to Jesus and worship Him with undivided hearts. May we follow the only God who is truly wise.  Amen!" 

"to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen." Romans 16:27

It is a gift from God to experience His wisdom, His love and His promptings.