E-votional - The Wise Have Open Eyes  
January 3, 2002
Verse:

"asking, 'Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.'"

Matthew 2:2 (NRSV)  

Thought:

    The term is commonly referred to as "a diamond in the rough." Finding the not-so-obvious and recognizing it as special. That special baseball glove in the attic, that old Bible we keep on our desk, maybe the first picture drawn by your child. They are precious moments of precious understanding. Finding, recognizing and embracing the ah-ha's of life.

   Hear the Good News, the birth of Christ was THE find of a lifetime. No, rather, IS the find of a life time. Why such a focus on "IS"? I guess because the "is" is out there for you. Christ, His birth, life, death and resurrection is there for you to find, recognize and embrace. There is a show called the Antique Roadshow, and on this show people bring things in that they thing are special, things they have found and said "ah-ha, this is something!" There is a tour this show puts on, and there is a huge following. People are looking, people are hoping, people want to find that something special, that diamond in the rough. The difference between the person that finds treasure after treasure and the person that might find one by accident is how they look. The wise, the hunter, they are always looking, always keeping their eyes open, ready to find that something special, expecting to find that something special. The other, they stumble upon the treasure, then hope to stumble upon it again. Open your eyes, expect to find the treasure of Christ, there, here, everywhere. If you or I looked with that kind of passion and energy for Christ, shared our finds with others, what type of world would we live in?

Prayer: 

   Gracious Father, You are there, You are here, You are everywhere, for Your presence, I thank you. Open my eyes that I might see You more clearly, let me share this discovery with others that they might know of the treasure of Christ. Thank You for all that You have done in my life and all You will continue to do, for I ask this through Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.