Look Up
A devotional by Suzanne Felton
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”
—Matthew 2:10 (ESV)
I have an early memory of being in a very crowded store with my mom during the holiday rush. As a small child, all I could see was a jungle of feet, legs, purses, and shopping bags all around me.
As we waited in the long checkout line, I must have been fascinated by my surroundings because I remember reaching out distractedly to grab my mother’s hand, only to realize that the hand I grabbed did not belong to my mother! Fear seized me in that moment, but fortunately, I looked up and saw a kind stranger’s face, and then my mother’s face smiling down at me, and all was made right.
The Christmas season can be overwhelming. Everywhere you turn, signs of the season are on non-stop full display, vying for your attention. Store displays, television commercials, radio playlists, neighborhood lights, and more bombard us from every direction. That’s not to mention all the holiday parties, pageants, potlucks, and other events that fill our Christmas calendars. All good things, but with so much going on at once, it’s easy to get swept up in the festivities and lose sight of what’s most important.
The Magi, or “wise men,” are familiar characters from the Bible’s Christmas story. They were educated men from an eastern land who recognized a new star in the night sky as an announcement of the Messiah’s birth. They followed the star in search of the newborn king. When they reached Jerusalem, they knew they were close, so they asked around for specific directions, saying, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2 NIV).
I wonder what it was like for the Magi when they arrived in the big, bustling city of Jerusalem, a place foreign to them where they knew no one, surrounded by unfamiliar sights and sounds. Were they expecting the people to already know about the birth of the Messiah, since the star they’d followed was there for all to see? That doesn’t seem to have been the case, since the questions they asked in town caused quite a stir. The Bible says in Matthew 2:3 (ESV), “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” The arrival of the wise men and the things they spoke of must have been huge news in Jerusalem. People were probably talking about it in the streets, spreading rumors, and crowding around the Magi, offering their unsolicited advice. Even King Herod heard about it. He summoned the wise men to meet him and gave them his own underhanded instructions.
I imagine the Magi left the buzzing city feeling a bit overwhelmed. They’d been told where to go by Herod, and probably others, too, but it wasn’t until they looked up and saw the star that they knew they were back on the right track. The Bible says in Matthew 2:9-10 (ESV), “After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” It was by keeping their eyes on the star that they found Jesus Christ.
As you enjoy all the trimmings and trappings of the Christmas season, remember to look up and keep your eyes on the holy light that still shines in the darkness so that you will find Jesus in the midst of it all.
Let’s Pray:
Dear God,
Thank You for sending your son Jesus into the world to save us from our sins. When we feel overwhelmed or distracted by the world’s expectations and distractions during this busy time of year, help us to pause and look up to You to guide us to the true joy and meaning of Christmas. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Song of Reflection #1: “Oh, Holy Night” by Nat King Cole. Listen to it here.
Song of Reflection #2: “Look Up, Child” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.
Song of Reflection #3: “Light of the World” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.
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Author Bio:
Suzanne Felton has been a writer for most of her life, even before she realized it.
She has worked in a wide range of settings, from non-profits to science labs to government contracts to educational classrooms, all of which involved writing in one form or another.
Suzanne is amazed by the power of words and now uses her passion and experience to help authors and students as a writing coach. Encouraging others to find the words and the courage to share their stories is one of her greatest joys.
Suzanne’s devotionals have been published in periodicals and blogs including The Upper Room, The Love Offering, Keys 4 Kids, and The Swallow’s Nest. She is also a two-time finalist in the Cascade Christian Writing Contest for poetry.
She is a wife, mother, writer, reader, teacher, deep thinker, and sinner saved by grace. Suzanne and her family reside in Northern Virginia, but Suzanne will always call her native South Carolina home.
Married to her best friend for twenty-five years, Suzanne is active in her church, where she and her husband have served as deacons for over a decade. They enjoy watching sports and visiting national parks with their two teenage sons. Suzanne is also an avid birder, easily and happily distracted by anything with feathers.
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Connect with Suzanne:
Website: https://suzannefelton.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l_suzanne_felton
Email address: suzannefeltonwriter@gmail.com
Embrace the majesty of the Messiah
Bill Crowder, who spent over twenty years in the pastorate, is vice president of ministry content at Our Daily Bread Ministries. He is a contributor to Our Daily Bread and the author of nine books, including My Hope Is in You, Seeing the Heart of Christ, and For This He Came. He and his wife, Marlene, have five children.
