WALK FORWARD TO YOUR STARS
Matthew 2:1-12
At the start of the year 2018, it is an opportunity for us to look back and thank God for a wonderful and blissful year God has given us in the past.
This is not a time to regret but rather to be grateful for whatever we achieved, whatever we received. Even there were failures; there were no mistakes but only lessons learned.
What has passed is history.
We have to move forward with much zeal and hope as there is always something in store and the best is yet to come.
JESUS IS OUR STAR
Jesus is the bright morning star, a star that outshines all the stars.
He is the light shining, giving us hope, direction and light.
“ I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches, I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.”-Revelation 12:16
We walk forward to reach Him, our star. Like the Magi, they brave the journey till they reach the star, where Jesus was lying on a manger.
OUR OWN LITTLE STAR
All of us have our own star to follow.
What is the star that you want to reach?
What are the dreams that you want to achieve?
With that desires to walk toward Jesus, we also have our own dreams, our own little stars to achieve.
But how we could reach our little stars?
START YOUR JOURNEY WITH FAITH
“Do you know where you’re going to? Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to? Do you know?”
These are some phrases from a popular song, Do you Know Where you’re Going by Diana Ross in 1976.
Why so many people today cannot reach their destination is precise because we don’t know where we are heading to.
We should specifically state our destination. We should know exactly where we want to go.
Like the three Magi, they know where they were heading to.
They believed that at the end of that star is where what they are looking for.
They have their star to follow.
We have to start our journey with FAITH. And why faith?
Because faith is the assurance of the things that we hoped for and being certain of things that we cannot see. (Hebrew 11:1)
Faith could not materialize until we have something to hope for.
So what are those things that you hope for?
We should know what we really want in life for this and the years to come.
Our star may be a happy united family, a strong marriage relationship, financial freedom, to be a faithful and committed servant in your ministry, pursue your passion, unleash your entrepreneurial spirit, start a business or be successful in your career.
These are just a few stars that you want to follow and reach. These are the things you hope for.
You may not yet be able to see it clearly right now. Even the Magi only see the star above but they never stop.
They believe and they were never failed.
Start our journey with faith, believing that at the end of our journey we will achieve it.
There are no failures; there are no mistakes but lessons learned.
TAKE A CONCRETE ACTION WITH TRUST
Faith without action is dead. (James 2:14)
A hundred miles always begin with a single step.
We have to take concrete action at a time.
The magi rode their camels and start their journey. They were not satisfied just seeing the star from afar but rather walked to go for it.
You will never discover what lies beneath until we dug it.
We will never discover what awaits us on the other side until we cross it.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.- Proverbs 3:5
Take concrete action and reject all fears. Our trust should be bigger than our fears.
True courage is doing it afraid.
It does not mean that we are not afraid. Despite the feeling of fear to fail and hearing what other people might say, we act upon it.
Our action is driven by our determination to succeed no matter what.
AVOID NEGATIVE THOUGHTS AND TOXIC PEOPLE
In our journey to reach for the stars, we will meet a lot of people who don’t want us to succeed.
Like the three Magi, they have Herod to meet.
How many Herod do you have that instead of encouraging you, are pulling you down?
Some people are so negative that they don’t want you to be better than them.
Toxins are not good for our body so we get rid of them, and we get them rid out of our body.
Toxic people and toxic thoughts should not be entertained as they will slow down your pace.
Reject all the negative thoughts that belittle you but rather think positive.
Positive thinking creates positive results. Positive thoughts lift up our spirit, they boost our morale and increase our tolerance of disappointments.
Phil 4:8 “ Finally, brother and sisters, whatever is noble, whatever is true, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think of such thing…
Avoid people who rob your confidence and steal your morale and add toxicity level to your thoughts.
REWARDS AWAIT AT THE END FOR THOSE WHO PERSEVERE
Like the three Magi, they never stopped.
They never let Herod intimidate them nor did the journey frustrate them.
There is no easy and smooth journey on the road.
Always expect the unexpected but with faith, we can conquer all these knowing that our God is always with us.
There is always a prize for those who persevere.
The tendency to complain is great but there is no room for a whiner to be a winner.
We rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces hope.- Romans 5:3-4
There was a beautiful song titled “The Impossible Dream” adapted from the musical play Man from La Mancha in 1964.
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how farTo fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly causeAnd I know if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I’m laid to my restAnd the world will be better for this
That one man scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star
SERVE GOD WITH THE GIFTS YOU RECEIVED
Like the three Magi, they offered their gifts to Jesus.
All of us have our own unique gifts which we need to offer, which we need to share.
God has given us blessings so that we could be a blessing to others as well.
The ultimate purpose of our reaching the stars is not about ourselves but rather, this could be an instrument that we could bless people whom God has given us.
The pinnacle of reaching our destination is that we have done something that will leave an imprint on those to whom God entrusted us.
What profit a man if we gain and conquer the whole world yet lose our soul.
Our journey shall be in vain if, in the end, we attain all of the things we hope for yet for our own gain.
“And I know if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I’m laid to my rest”
You can only be peaceful and calm when at the end of all of those journeys we can say “Lord it is finished, I ran the race and am ready to receive the crown that you prepared for me..”
We have to serve God with what we received because we have to answer His question “What have you done to the least of your brother?
May the start of this year bring you a more fulfilling life toward your purpose and core value.
In summary, follow your stars…
Start your journey with faith
Take a concrete action with trust
Avoid Negative thoughts and toxic people
Reward awaits those who persevere
Serve God with the gifts you received
May your walk toward your stars,
Mikesendon