If you're at this link you probably found me through @iliketocreatestuff. This is an expanded version of a recent post.
Did you know that we don't actually know how many wise men looked for Jesus? And that we don't know how old Jesus was by the time the wise men found him?
According to the King James Bible, we know that the wise men came from the east to Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1) and we know that among the gifts were three identified things: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). That is likely where the tradition of three wise men started. We also know that by the time the wise men found Jesus, he was a young child. (Matthew 2:9-11), "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."
I have always loved every piece of the Nativity story, including the amount of time these wise man took to drop everything and look for the Savior of the World, to go and to worship him. They knew what mattered most. Likewise, when Jesus was an adult, he bade the fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James, and John to "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men," (Matthew 4:19) and they, realizing the importance of the request, dropped everything and followed him.
I have been wanting to depict the wise men with this saying that I love, "Wise men still seek him." I pictured men and women of different ages and ethnicities with hearts in their hands representing their desire to seek him, like the wise men did. When we seek him now, we strive to be like him. We strive to show kindness and charity and to minister to one another. We strive to be more compassionate. We seek to show mercy.
How do we still seek him?
Sharon Eubank said: "We often think of substance in terms of food or money, but perhaps what we all need more of in our ministering is mercy."
and
"Let's keep each other's names safe and give the gift of mercy."
("By Union of Feeling We Obtain the Power of God," by Sharon Eubank)
Howard W. Hunter said:
“The world in which we live would benefit greatly if men and women everywhere would exercise the pure love of Christ, which is kind, meek, and lowly. It is without envy or pride. … It seeks nothing in return. … It has no place for bigotry, hatred, or violence. … It encourages diverse people to live together in Christian love regardless of religious belief, race, nationality, financial standing, education, or culture.”
("A More Excellent Way," Howard W. Hunter)
Mother Teresa said:
"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
("10 quotes by Mother Teresa on Kindness, Love, and Humanity" by Edge of Known)
Are you wondering how you can "seek Him" today? One great place to start is the annual December "Light the World" movement. Although the concept truly means you do this year round, as the wise men didn't stop looking for Jesus outside of the months of December, "Light the World" provides a daily prompt for one thing you can do to fulfill the promise the angels proclaimed in Luke 2:14, "On earth peace, good will toward men." You will find some days easier than others. Today, for example, it suggests, "Lift others like Jesus did. Decorate a neighbor's door with Christmas greetings. Then share a picture of what you wrote on social media." You can find out more by going to the website or text "Light" to 71234.