Conclusion:
- The magi were curious, certain and committed.
- They were curious about the star's rising.
- They were certain about the star's meaning.
- They were curious about the king's identity.
- They were certain about their own responsibility.
- They were committed to an inconvenient journey.
- They were certain about their noble purpose.
- The magi were curious, certain and committed, but they weren't changed.
- They made the right decisions, followed the right protocol, offered the right gifts and displayed the right posture in worship.
- Having satisfied their curiosity and fulfilled their commitment, the magi returned to their land.
- How we wish the account said that they were changed as a result of what they encountered!
- How we wish the account said that they quit their astrological pursuits!
- How we wish the account said that they became evangelists once they got home, spreading the good news about the birth of a Savior-King!
- None of those things are mentioned in the biblical account.
- We can assume that they went back to the way things were before they saw the star.
- What a squandered opportunity!
- How close the magi came to significant, lasting, spiritual change!
- They stopped short because they chose to manage Christmas. Their management instinct said to get close but not too close. Their management style said to be interested but distant. Their management manual said to be polite and respectful while remembering to bow down and worship. Oh, yes, and bring a good offering. In other words, go only so far and no further. Don't get carried away.
- The magi did many things correctly, but they left the most important thing behind.
- They got the formality, respect, offering and worship posture right.
- In spite of the external things they got right, the magi did not get the internal thing, the ultimate thing, right.
- The ultimate thing, the internal and eternal thing, is this: What will you do with Jesus, now that you have encountered Him?
- What will you do with Jesus?
- You can do what the magi did – be religiously correct.
- You can settle for having attended, stood at the right time, sat at the right time, listened at the right time, closed your eyes during the prayer time, and put something into the offering.
- While those behaviors are commendable, they fall short of God's design.
- You can do what the magi didn't – surrender to Jesus, repent of your sin, and begin to live for Jesus instead of yourself.
- You can maximize the opportunity you had to be in church and to encounter Jesus.
- You can turn from your sin and turn toward Jesus.
- You can ask Jesus to forgive your sin and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, guilt and shame.
- You can invite Jesus Christ into your life to be your Savior.
- You can, by the power of the Holy Spirit, live for Jesus.
- You can have a new purpose in your life.
- God's design is that, when you meet His Son Jesus, your life would be changed.
- Change begins with repentance.
- Repentance isn't just a set of words to express but a lifestyle to pursue.
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