When the three wise men came from a far country to find Jesus, they were first led to Jerusalem. "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him." Herod called in the priests and asked where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "Bethlehem."
The wise men left to go to Bethlehem, but have you ever noticed none of the priests or Pharisees went with them to see if the Messiah had been truly born? Not one of them. Why? Wouldn't you have been overcome with curiosity and gone to see if it was so?
I think they could not believe God had passed them by and communicated with these men, who were not Jews as far as we know. But the Magi were seekers of truth, and I think that is what is important. They were open to the Holy Spirit's leading. The priests were not. God had to bypass them and go to those who would hear his voice.
Later, John the Baptist came preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." He was proclaiming the beginning of the kingdom of the Messiah. The priests and Pharisees also rejected John. Who was John? A nobody.
When Mary came from Jesus' grave and told the disciples Jesus had appeared to her and had risen from the dead, the disciples didn't believe her. Who was Mary? A woman. Why would Jesus appear to her first? If he had risen, wouldn't he have come to them?
When Jesus was with his disciples, they came to him and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name; we tried to stop him because he does not follow along with us." What did Jesus say? "Don't stop him. For whoever is not against you is for you."
Sometimes a message from God will come to us through someone we would never imagine. Someone who doesn't belong to our group or church. We should keep our ears and hearts open. I think I have learned more about how to live the Christian life from Joyce Meyer than from any other person. She doesn't belong to my church and I don't agree with all of her beliefs, but God has used her to break the hold depression had upon me. He has used her to teach me about having true belief. I would have missed out on so much if I had dismissed her.
