You can be a STAR!

Matthew 2: 9-10
"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."

When I was younger, the whole idea of the star leading the Magi to Jesus fascinated me.  I thought it was the coolest thing that a bright star was over the Jesus, and was placed just perfectly for the Magi to be able to come directly to Jesus.  That must have been one bright star!  I always wondered why in the world no one else seemed to notice the star or follow it.  It just seemed odd that these three men from afar followed the star, but none of the local people are mentioned seeing the star and coming to see Jesus.  The shepherds came to see Jesus, but they were told by angels and were told their sign was finding a baby in a manger!

I was even more amazed about the star when I found out years later that the Magi likely did not show up to see Jesus until he was about 2 years old or so.
So that star shown for likely 2 years.  How amazing and cool was that to have this bright star in the sky, leading folks to Jesus.

Now I think about that star, I think about the Magi coming from a far away place to meet Jesus and I wonder where we fit in that story.

Years after that star shown over Jesus, and led the Magi to Him, Jesus stood on a mount and shared one of the greatest sermons ever spoken.
In the the 5th chapter of Matthew, Jesus says "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way. let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

We are the star.  Our purpose here on earth is to be a light that brings others to Jesus.  Our purpose is to be that star that shines, and makes folks want to see who this Jesus person is.

This holiday season, we need to be a star.  Not a star in the worldly sense, we need to be a star for Jesus Christ.

I recently got an email that helps bring home the difference between the 2 stars.
In effect, the email gave a quiz. 
Here were the questions:

1. Name the 5 wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

Some of you may have done okay with this quiz...chances are, without googles help, most of us don't do very good at this quiz at all.   These folks would be/have been "Stars" in the worldly sense.  Most of us put a good bit of time focusing on these "Stars", and yet, they are gone from our minds.  They didn't make a lasting impression on us.

Here is the 2nd quiz the email offered:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

As the email points out, this list was likely easier for you.  I know it was for me.

We spend a lot of time on this earth trying to be a star.  We spend a lot of time trying to gain fame in the worldly sense.
I spent lots of time in middle school praying to be the star of the football, wrestling and track teams.  In high school that shifted to praying to be the star of the soccer, swim and tennis teams. 
In college, it was trying to be a rock star.  Traveling around and performing with "Skaerf", the band I was in.

And yet, all of that has faded away.  Lots of time and hours spent on things that are no longer a part of my life.  True, many of those sports and experiences have helped shape me into who I am.
However, I feel like my work in the church, leading youth to Jesus is what defines me.  It is who I am.  It is what will make a difference in the long run.  Being able to juggle a soccer ball is cool, but being able to talk to someone about Jesus is eternal.  Being the star that leads someone to Jesus can make changes in the world that are still being talked about 100 years from now.

We are all called to be a star for Jesus, but many of us focus more time on being a star for the world.

I encourage you this Christmas season to focus on being a star for Jesus instead of a star for this world.

Soccer, football, dance, running, etc. is all fun now, but one day your body will no longer be able to do these things.  But your faith will still be with you.

Playing an instrument is a great joy, but one day your fingers will not be nimble enough to press the keys or hold the drum sticks.  But your faith will still be with you.



Worldly stars will fade, no matter how great it feels in the moment, it will fade.

Are you focusing on being a star for the world, or are you focusing on being a star for Jesus?