Jesus told his followers, “Seek and you will find…for the one who seeks finds.” The story of the Magi gives us some important information on how to “seek” and “find” The Magi were the first people who searched for Jesus. They wished to encounter Him as they saw His star announcing His birth. How were they able to pick the information being given by the star?
Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” God speaks to all people and to every individual in a way they can understand, using things they are conversant with. God communicates in diverse ways, often in ways so simple that many do not take notice of his messages. He may not use words and may not communicate directly, as many imagine it. He communicates often through feelings, thoughts, experiences, symbols and less often through words. God communicates us daily through our diverse experiences, but we often do not take notice of his messages because we do not pay attention. We do not pay attention because we do not believe that God can speak to us personally and in ways other than through word.
Pay Attention
The Magi paid attention to the appearance of the special star. God spoke to them though what was familiar to them. They worked diligently to understand the signal the star was sending. They applied their sense of discernment to decode the message of God. This discerning spirit is required to grasp the message of God. Whoever seeks God or walks with him must pay attention to His “voice.”
Again, seeking and finding requires steadfastness. In their search for the newborn King, the Magi were steadfast. They did not waver in their search, even when it became frustrating. At one point, they lost track of the guiding star, but they did not quit. They rather reinforced their resolution to find the newborn King. Thus, they went to Herod for further inquiry.
The path of God is not straightforward. Sometimes it may seem that the light of God’s glory is no longer shinning on our path because of the challenges we encounter. We might be tempted in this period to abandon the journey or the search. However, quitting should never be an option because quitters never win, and winners never quit.
The Magi did not quit. They rather searched more diligently. They believed in their cause and were resolute to succeed. They knew that whoever sought would find but only when one searched patiently and determinedly. It requires courage and firmness of purpose to walk the path of God. Otherwise, one would seek without finding.
