This original ornament of Christmas…
The Christmas star…
It was one that reflected GODS LIGHT and GODS GLORY. It led the three wise men and it is still leading wise men. As it's been said many times, "Wise men still seek Him."
When you ask people to name a star they go directly to the entertainment industry. I get names like Taylor Swift, Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp, Kim Kardashian but never a word about Jesus Christ.
From what I could research this is what I found. People started putting lights – candles to be more specific – on Christmas trees in the middle of the 17th century. These were attached to the end of tree branches with wax or pins and were adhered to the tree to represent shining stars. This tradition started in Germany and spread to Eastern Europe over the next two centuries. Because this was a serious fire hazard, most people didn’t put their trees up until December 24, ensuring that they would only be up for a brief period of time while the tree was still fresh – and much less flammable.
The custom of putting strings of lights on trees began in 1882 when Edward Johnson – an associate of Thomas Edison – wired red, white and blue bulbs together and placed them on an evergreen tree. In 1895, President Grover Cleveland followed suit and decorated a Christmas tree in the White House with stringed lights. The public took notice, and the tradition started to catch on.
Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska. Most Americans put a start on top of their tree. The star led wise men to see the Christ. When you see the star let it remind you of The
Star.
Matthew 2:1 (NIV) "1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his STAR in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6" ’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel." 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the STAR had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the STAR they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the STAR, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."
We see in the midst of these verses a STAR. From yesterday’s Blog we saw the reason for the tree and today we see the star. Don’t let the world cause you to loose heart over the lack of Christmas spirit because the Spirit of Christmas is still alive and well. As we approach Christmas, approach the throne of grace with great boldness and ask God to fill you with His spirit and you will have a Merry Christmas regardless of your circumstances.
The Christmas star…
It was one that reflected GODS LIGHT and GODS GLORY. It led the three wise men and it is still leading wise men. As it's been said many times, "Wise men still seek Him."
When you ask people to name a star they go directly to the entertainment industry. I get names like Taylor Swift, Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp, Kim Kardashian but never a word about Jesus Christ.
From what I could research this is what I found. People started putting lights – candles to be more specific – on Christmas trees in the middle of the 17th century. These were attached to the end of tree branches with wax or pins and were adhered to the tree to represent shining stars. This tradition started in Germany and spread to Eastern Europe over the next two centuries. Because this was a serious fire hazard, most people didn’t put their trees up until December 24, ensuring that they would only be up for a brief period of time while the tree was still fresh – and much less flammable.
The custom of putting strings of lights on trees began in 1882 when Edward Johnson – an associate of Thomas Edison – wired red, white and blue bulbs together and placed them on an evergreen tree. In 1895, President Grover Cleveland followed suit and decorated a Christmas tree in the White House with stringed lights. The public took notice, and the tradition started to catch on.
Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska. Most Americans put a start on top of their tree. The star led wise men to see the Christ. When you see the star let it remind you of The
Star.
Matthew 2:1 (NIV) "1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his STAR in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6" ’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel." 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the STAR had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the STAR they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the STAR, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."
We see in the midst of these verses a STAR. From yesterday’s Blog we saw the reason for the tree and today we see the star. Don’t let the world cause you to loose heart over the lack of Christmas spirit because the Spirit of Christmas is still alive and well. As we approach Christmas, approach the throne of grace with great boldness and ask God to fill you with His spirit and you will have a Merry Christmas regardless of your circumstances.
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