MapQuesting Jesus

Advent Devotional by Diane Bauerle

Read Matthew 2:7-12

“When they had heard the king they went their way;

and lo the star which they had seen in the East

went before them; till it came to rest over

the place where the child was.”

—Matthew 2:9—

Can you find Jesus by using MapQuest or programming a GPS? Technology has made traveling to unfamiliar destinations easier with the assistance of these two electronic tools. Enter the start and end addresses and push a button for a road map, detailed directions, and calculations showing the length of time and number of miles. This form of technology has helped many travelers successfully find their destination.
The Bible tells us a story about the three wise men traveling to the unfamiliar destination of Bethlehem. The three wise men were summoned by Herod to find Jesus. As they set out on their journey, they didn’t have the luxury of using MapQuest or a GPS system. Instead they knew to follow a brightly lit star.
Can you imagine traveling by night looking skyward at the stars to find your way? Amazingly, the three wise men were guided directly to their destination and were overjoyed to find Jesus, God’s gift to the world.
Is finding Jesus using MapQuest or by programming a GPS possible? Try entering a start address of “your heart” and an end address of “Jesus” and see what happens. You’ll be surprised at the destinations to which Jesus will lead you.

Prayer:
Lord, help us find Jesus in Bethlehem this Christmas season and guide us on our daily journeys as we travel to unfamiliar destinations. Amen