I almost lost my phone this morning. It was still dark when I left the house. But I needed to hook up my trailers so I could bring a manger I built for the Christmas display to the church for the Advent season. I set my phone on the edge of my truck and used the flashlight pointing down on my trailer hitch so I could see to hook everything up. Then I got in the car and drove away without retrieving my phone! I was at least two miles down the road before I realized my phone was missing! So, I turned around and headed back toward home, praying I would find my phone. Luckily, the flashlight was still turned on and I was able to clearly see my phone lying in the road with the flashlight facing the night sky like a beacon.
God gave that
illustration this morning as an example for the Advent season. Advent and Christmas are full of signs and
symbols that point us to Christ like a beacon in the night. The question is, are we ready to see the symbols and hear God’s voice
leading us to Christ in the season? I
hope this message will prepare us to be more in tune to God’s Holy Spirit this
Christmas season.
Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-2
18 This is how Jesus the
Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But
before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became
pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph,
to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her
publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take
Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy
Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to
name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through
his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will
conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord
commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did
not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him
Jesus.
1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of
King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in
Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of
the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
Following God’s guidance can feel like connecting the dots in a constellation of stars. I've never been that good at identifying constellation--you know one is supposed to look like a crab and another like a bear. The only one I really know is the Big Dipper; and that's good because it helps you find the North Star so you always know which way is north.
For Joseph, the angel’s dream message was as clear as a bright star shining in
the night sky. It told him what God wanted him to do. But for us, the signs are often harder to see. It takes prayer to help us
listen to God’s voice, reading the Bible to understand His plan, and worship to
bring the pieces together. God’s guidance becomes clearer when we spend time with Him and trust that He is
leading us closer to His purpose.
The Wise Men are a big part of the Christmas story.
They are known for following a star to find Jesus. But how did they know the
star was pointing to the Christ King? And what kind of King would they find?
Maybe they are called “Wise” because they understood how to follow signs—signs
that are not always as obvious as Joseph’s dream.
The Wise Men saw a star rise and knew it meant the
birth of a great King. But the star didn’t lead to a palace—it led to a manger. Who would expect a King to be born in a feeding trough for animals? It was not what anyone imagined. What about you? What are you expecting when you look for help or direction from God? Are you open to seeing His signs, even if they lead somewhere unexpected?
Following God’s plan doesn’t mean life will suddenly become easy or free of challenges. In fact, following Jesus can sometimes lead us to face new difficulties we didn’t expect—just as the path from the manger ultimately led to the cross. Jesus came into the world as a humble baby, but His journey was marked by rejection, suffering, and sacrifice. Yet, it was all part of God’s perfect plan to bring salvation to the world. When we choose to follow God’s plan for our lives, it may bring its own share of struggles, even pain. But we can trust that His plan is always for our good in the long run, even when it’s hard to see in the moment. The cross was not the end of the story, and neither are the challenges we face. When we trust and follow Christ, we walk in the assurance that, ultimately, His plan leads us to a far better future. And sometimes the suffering we must endure, is a refining fire that purifies us and makes us all God wants us to be.
The cross was not the end of Jesus’ story. The Word tells us that three days after He was crucified, He rose from the grave, leaving the tomb empty. This is the cornerstone of our faith, the bold claim that changes everything. While it can be hard to believe, we have the testimony of witnesses—those who saw the risen Christ and whose lives were transformed by the truth. We may also personally know people who testify that faith in Jesus had changes their life.
Even so, it takes faith to accept. The resurrection is a mystery and a miracle, but it is also the foundation of
our hope. And the empty tomb is a bright shining star that symbolized the hope we have in
Christ.
For those who believe, Jesus promises eternal life.
This hope sustains us as we follow His way, even when the path is hard or leads
to suffering. The cross reminds us of the cost of discipleship, but the empty
tomb assures us of the victory. Just as Jesus rose to new life, so too will we, if we trust in Him.
This is the hope that gives us strength to endure, courage to persevere, and joy in knowing that the story God is writing for us doesn’t end in death—it
ends in life.
As we enter this Advent season, I want to invite you to make a commitment—a commitment to spend intentional time seeking God. Just as the Wise Men followed the star to Jesus, we need to follow the signs God gives us to draw closer to Him. It can be hard to see those signs in the busyness and distractions of life, but prayer helps us tune our hearts to His voice.
That’s why I’m challenging every one of you to stop
by the church at least once a week during Advent—between now and Christmas—and
spend some time in prayer in our newly renovated Prayer Room. It’s open to you any day and at any time. (Call
the church and we can give you a code that gives you access to the church
through the kitchen door.)
Whether it’s early in the morning, during your lunch break, or late at night, I
encourage you to come. Use this time to
pray, reflect, and listen for God’s direction in your life—even if just for a
few minutes.
Following God’s plan isn’t always easy. Sometimes, the path feels unclear, and we need
to connect the dots. But when we spend time with Him—when we pray, study His
Word, and worship—we begin to see His purpose more clearly. So, come to the Prayer Room. Bring your questions, your hopes, and even your struggles. Let this Advent season be a time when you seek Him intentionally,
knowing that God is leading you toward His good and perfect plan.
