Spotlight or Guiding Light?
Working with a plan and ordered or wandering and adjusting?
Star of Wonder
Senior Pastor Kristen Lee
1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
2“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.”
3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
6‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
7Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”
9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Matthew 2:1–12 (NASB95)
Micah 5:2
“What goals do you have for 2023?”
That was the question asked in the children’s moment. One of the kids answered, “Build all my Legos.” Oh for the days of the simple desires.
They showed a video and a statistic that East Cobb UMC had 500 people serve 57,000 people in 2022. The video had a montage of the service opportunities the church works with through the year. My wife’s and my goal this year is to get back to tithing from our treasure which has been curtailed for some time due to the ongoing UMC/GMC disagreement in the polity over adherence and enforcement of the Book of Discipline. But, I’m not going to get into that here. Suffice to say 2023 will be a different year for my family for several reasons.
Pastor Lee asked a question when she opened her sermon: “I wonder how many times the Magi got lost while trying to find their way to Jesus?”
She related the story of Pascual Perez, an Atlanta Braves baseball pitcher form 1982 who got lost on I-285 heading downtown to pitch his debut game for the Braves. For those who do not know, I-285 is a circular bypass around Atlanta, Georgia. If you’d like to read about him, you can find the Wikipedia link HERE.
That story branched into a discussion about how there’s always something to direct us these days. Younger readers may not understand the Pascual Perez story until they realize the smart phone wasn’t invented until the 1990s with the first iPhone coming out in 2007. Before then, we used written instructions and paper maps to get to where we were going.
How many times did the magi get lost on their way to Jesus? It’s an interesting question. The knee jerk response is none. They had a guiding star, right, but that then brings up a second question: was the star a spotlight or a “guiding light?” At least, that was Pastor Lee’s question.
Her premise of the sermon was that perhaps we were better off with a guiding light rather than a spotlight. The idea was that a “guiding light” better let us wander experiencing more of life, resting when we wished, and being able to better love people we meet. My immediate response to this is no, “guiding light” by her definition allowing us to wander about as we head to our destination is not what we should want. At least not for the things that are goals on God’s path.
I just as quickly recognize there are two types of people generally speaking concerning working toward goals. Well, two types of mindsets. Specifically, in my experience people who work on multi-task efforts tend to approach them in one of two ways: the direct approach or the wandering approach as I call them. These two approaches are illustrated below.
Planned and direct or get started and adjust?
In the first approach, time is spent organizing, outlining, and planning before beginning. In the second approach work is begun and all the things about the tasks and goal are learned or discovered as the work is done. I fall into the first camp and believe it is a better approach. In terms of doing God’s work I acknowledge God uses both types of people, but it is my opinion we are better servants when we are about the tasks God has given us as quickly and efficiently as we can.
A scripture search turns up a lot of parallels between being diligent and prospering while the opposite is listed as being lazy. I’m not suggesting those who don’t do things my way are lazy. There are many who use the start now and adjust as we go method who are not lazy at all. What I am saying is scripturally planning, forethought, and the direct approach are more preferred. Proverbs presents this in a nice, tidy package.
5The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5 (NASB95)
There are more that add to that.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB95)
You will not convince me I am wrong on this. For me, the direct, planned, ordered approach will always be seen as the most efficient to me. However, if you just as fervently object to my method feel free to approach things how you see fit. We’ll both be answering for our own choices to Jesus at the appropriate time and if you believe you are doing His work the way He directs you who am I to try and stop you?
Pastor Lee finished off her sermon with what she called “star words.” Star words are guiding words. Words that help lead us along a path God intends for us to follow. She had small star-shaped pieces of paper at the altar rail for everyone to come up and take one. We couldn’t see the words when we approached, and the goal wasn’t to run up and find a word we liked but take the one we were led to take. I ended up with “unity” as my word.
Star word Unity
I don’t know where God has me going this year, but the Spirit led me to the word unity. I’ve got it in a spot I can see it daily now. It will remind me every day about this beginning of the year. Hopefully, at the end of the year, I’ll understand why God sent this word to me.
Welcome to 2023. I hope you began it safely and happily. May the remainder of the year be joyful and pleasant, walking with God in His purpose for your life. God bless, and Godspeed.