simeon: “god always keeps his promises.”

Many of the key “characters” in the

Christmas Story had an important promise of God

affirmed to them, which enabled

them to “take heart.”

Simeon:“God always keeps

His Promises.”

Zack & Liz:“God sees and cares

about your pain.”

Mary:“God will honor

your faithfulness.”

Joseph:“God will guide

your life.”

Our last “characters” from the Christmas Story that could take heart

from the lessons they learned traveled very far and sacrificed much:

The Wise Men (Magi)

Matthew 2: 1-12“The Visit of the Magi”

For the Magi to take this trip to Israel, it would likely have cost them: Money, Resources, Time, & Reputation

There’s no way that they commit to this journey without faith that this “God of the Jews” can be found by them, too.

Hebrews 11:6“Without faith

it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him

must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

In their diligent study of the O.T., the Magi learned about God’s “Heart”:

God is the Creator of all mankind. God desires all men to know His Glory. God graciously give mercy to sinners. “Messiah” = God’s Salvation for all

Isaiah 56:3 Let

no foreigner who is bound

to the LORD say,“The LORD will

surely exclude me from His people.”

Although there was still much the Magi didn’t know about God and His Ways; they obeyed Him

in the matters they did understand.

We need to do the same thing.

Deuteronomy4: 25-29

God promises to be found

by those who have wandered away from Him, but repent & seek

Him.

Deuteronomy 4:29

“But if from there

you seek the LORD your God,

you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Jeremiah 29: 11-1211 “For I know

the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

12 Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me,

and I will listen to you.”

Isaiah 55: 6-7 6 “Seek the LORD while He may be found;

call on Him while He is near.7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the evil ones their thoughts.

Let them turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on them,

and to our God, for He will freely pardon.”

Amos 5: 4-6 4 This is what the LORD says to Israel:

“Seek Me and live;5 do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal,

do not journey to Beersheba.For Gilgal will surely go into exile,

and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.6 Seek the LORD and live…”

Although they didn’t share in the

rebellious history of the Israelites, The Magi were not just far away

physically from Israel, they also were

spiritually separated by their sins, too.

Down throughout history,the people of God has been made up of

“insiders” and “outsiders”(people with godly ancestry… or not).However… the process of God saving

a person is the SAME for everyone:Seeking God through Repentance of Sins

The Magi’s Promise:“God is found by all

who sincerely seek Him.”

We have much we can learn from how the Magi sought the Lord:

Humbly worshiping God… no strings! Learning God’s Ways from Scripture Flexible in obeying the Holy Spirit Willing to follow God, rather than men