BE A STAR

[cimi]

December 10
Monday


BE A STAR

READ:
Matthew 2:1-12
______________________________________

Those who turn many
to righteousness [shall
shine] like the stars
forever and ever.
__ Daniel 12:3
______________________________________

Many today seek stardom by trying to get into the media spotlight But a young Jewish captive achieved "stardom" in a better way.

When Daniel and his friends were taken captive by a ruthless invading nation, it was unlikely that they would be heard from again. But the godly young men soon distinguished themselves as intelligent and trustworthy.

When the king had a dream that his wise men could not repeat nor interpret, he condemned them to death. After a night of prayer with his friends, Daniel received from God the content of the dream and its interpretation. As a resullt, the king promoted Daniel to be his chief advisor (see Dan. 2).

If the story ended there, it would be remarkable enough. But some scholars believe that Daniel's influence in Babylon made people aware of messianic prophecies about a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem. Daniel's teaching may have been the reason that 500 years later wise men from the East followed a star to a remote and unfamiliar part of the world to find an infant King, worship Him, and return to their country with the good news of God's incredible journey to earth (Matt. 2:1-12).

By turning others to righteousness, we, like Daniel, can become a star that will shine forever. __ Julie Ackerman Link
_____________________________________________________________

~~~~~~~~~~~Make me a blessing, make me a blessing!~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Out of my life may Jesus shine;~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~Make me a blessing to someone today. __ Wilson~~~~~~~~
_____________________________________________________________

You can attract people to Jesus
when you have His light in your life.

**************************INSIGHT***************************
1 Now after Jesus was born
in Bethlehem of Judea in
the days of Herod the king,
behold, wise men from the
East came to Jerusalem,

2 saying, "Where is He who
has been born King of the
Jews? For we have seen His
star in the East and have
come to worship Him."

3 when Herod the king
heard this, he was troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered
all the chief priests and
scribes of the people
together, he inquired of
them where the Christ was
to be born. 5 So they said to
him, "In Bethlehem of
Judea, for thus it is written
by the prophet: 6 'But you,
Bethlehem, in the land of
Judah, are not the least
among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you shall come a
Ruler Who will shepherd
My people Israel.'"

7 Then Herod, when he had
secretly called the wise
men, determined from them
what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to
Bethlehem and said, "Go
and search carefully for the
young Child, and when you
have found Him, bring back
word to me, that I may
come and worship HIm
also."

9 When they heard the
king, they departed; and
behold, the star which they
had seen in the East went
before them, till it came and
stood over where the young
Child was. 10 When they
saw the star, they rejoiced
with exceedingly great joy.

11 And when they had come
into the house, they saw the
young Child with Mary His
mother, and fell down and
worshiped Him. And when
they had opened their
treasures, they presented
gifts to Him: gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely
warned in a dream that they
should not return to Herod,
they departed for their own
country anther way.

[Mackenaw]

Ding, Ding, Ding!!! Wow, I've read this (Daniel 2:1-6) several times, yet it didn't register that Nebuchadnezzar wanted to hear the actual dream that he had forgotten. Awesome!!!

Then Daniel prayed to God (Daniel 2:18) to give him the dream and then the interpretation. Prior to this reading, I had only "received" that Daniel had been given the interpretation -- BUT, he also had the dream itself revealed to him by God. Sooooooooo very cooooooooool.

Hmmmmmmmm, I wonder how many dreams I've had that were actually someone elses? Maybe none?? Maybe in the future???

Awesome! Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

God is so very Good. Thank You Holy Spirit. Jesus is Lord.

Thank you, Cimi.
God bless you,
Mack