“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the East, and have come to worship Him.”

Stars are a wondrous thing. As children we learn to sing “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.” Stars make us wonder. As a child growing up on a farm far away from any city lights, I remember looking up at the black night sky absolutely bursting full of stars that seemed almost close enough to touch. The Milky Way stretched its own band of light clear across the night sky. Sometimes I’d think about how far away the stars really were and how impossible it would be to count all the stars. When I thought too much about the stars and outer space, I’d have to go back inside and return to light.

I recall a little poem about stars; I think it was part of a school Christmas program:

The stars in the sky above are so beautiful to see
That’s ’cause they’re the electric lights on God’s Christmas tree.
Through all of the year they’re there, for all of the world to see.
You don’t have to wait ’til Christmas eve for God’s Christmas tree.

Matthew tells us that the Magi saw His star in the east and came to worship Jesus. The Magi were stargazers too. For them, the star was a guiding light to the place of Jesus’ birth. Because of that special star they were able to worship the Lord Jesus.

During this Advent season, perhaps you’ll have a chance to take a look at the night sky full of stars. They can be a reminder to worship the King.