The Star: Reflection

1. Why do you think Jesus is compared to a star?

He's called the light of the world and he is here to bring light to the darkness of this world. And a star does exactly that to the night sky, it lights up the darkness of night.

2. Why are Christians called to be a light in the world?

Jesus has called each and every one of us to be a reflection of who he is and if he's a light then we are to be a reflection of that light.

3. How does following Jesus keep us out of darkness? What is the darkness?

When we follow Jesus, our focus is on him and our perspective is through his eyes, then we are focused more on who we are called to be not what the world wants us to be. The darkness represents evil so whatever is considered darkness is also considered evil and we should stay away from it because all that does is bring destruction, and death.

4. What was the significance of the star that the wise men saw?

The star was significant because it was brighter and bigger than any star and you couldn't help but notice it, and if the wise men were supposed to find Jesus, they needed a sign that was unlike anything they had seen before or probably would ever see again.

5. The star is something we use as a decoration at Christmas. How can we use the picture of the Star to point our family and friends to Jesus?

The star decoration is a symbol of the light that Jesus brought into this world, from the beginning of time. Then things started to decay after Adam and Eve were tempted. They ate the forbidden fruit and following that, the first murder (Cain and Abel).

When we get to the New Testament, after Jesus came. He left us with the Holy Spirit, a light that is constantly, continually and always in us. It'll never burn out or go dim, it's always bright. If we follow him then other people will see that light through our actions, what we do and what we say, and that is how we can bring others to know Jesus.

The questions are from the “His name is…” devotional found on the You version bible app

Hills and Valleys

It sometimes seems as though life is one long valley. We wonder where is the hill, when will things finally look up, we want to be out of this situation, to be passed it, or to just feel good once again. In the moment we don’t think what God could be doing in our life or growing us in. 
Sure it sucks, for the most part I am still in a valley but I trying desperately to cling to who God is, who he says I am and most of all what good is he doing in this. It can feel hopeless, depressing and frustrating but having those feelings is not sin, they are just emotions, that are indicators of where our heart is at, are we believing God is in control, that he knows what he is doing? They are not dictators, we ultimately still have control because God has given us his authority.

It can even be hard to think back to what things were like on a previous mountain top, it can be blurred behind the thoughts and lies that bombard us, is it the work of the enemy or my weak flesh? How many times will I hit the bottom before I reach the next hill top?
We don’t have do this or try this or work at this. God wants us to come to him to bring our thoughts, emotions and baggage, they are not burdens for us to bear. He wants us to talk to him, tell him our fears and weaknesses, He can use his strength to fill our weaknesses.

Let him in, allow him to be your strength, we still have free will and it is still a choice. He is everything he says is, he is always loving, an faithful. Lean into him ask him to speak to you, to show you things. Most importantly lay down your fears and burdens at his feet, he wants to carry it, and unlike us he is fully able.

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”

Romans 5:3-5 “Not only so, we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character and character hope.  And hope to not put us to shame, because God's love has poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who gives me strength”

James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him”

One last thing: Tauren wells has a song called Hills and Valleys, and he also has a sermon on YouTube If you are interested in checking them out.