Neverfail Community Church

Matthew 2:9-10 'After 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. When they saw the star, the rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.' . . Of all the scripture recorded, the first 12 verses of Matthew 2 may raise more unanswered questions than any other. 'Who were these Magi?' 'Where did they come from?' 'How did they know what this star meant?' 'What kind of thing was this that is called a star?' Tradition tells us there were 3 men but scripture never tells us that. There are 3 gifts identified but we're not told if there were additional gifts. We are left without answers to much, yet we still believe. This passage shows God at work in foreigners' lives so convincingly that they would commence a journey to find this new king and bring Him gifts to pay homage to Him. The same Spirit of God that motivated these Magi is who enlightens us that we, too, would honor the Christ in our journey. Bring Jesus your gifts and bow before Him.

2 Corinthians 1:4 '[God] comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.' . . If we as believers will allow God, by His Spirit who abides within us, to minister to us through difficult times, we will find relief to deal with our distresses. The ministry that God provides to us not only empowers us to endure our difficulties but also equips and qualifies us to share that same comfort with other people who are struggling in their own afflictions. Not only are we qualified to help others, we are obligated to offer comfort to others because we received the gift of comfort from God who generously gave to us. God honors us by His ministry so that we would be His agents of blessing to the world. This is but a portion of God's goodwill towards humankind on earth.