Oh, When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy

Oh, When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy

Oh, When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy

They rejoiced with exceeding great joy great joy great joy

 

O’er mountains and valleys it led them each night

A star of most radiant light and so the wise men

rejoiced as they journeyed afar

to behold such a beautiful star

These are words to a song recorded by the Bill Gaither Homecoming Friends several years back and performed on a Christmas album.

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to speak to a young man and his mother during the live nativity presentation at Hartselle First United Methodist Church. I told them I was glad they had come to the live nativity and asked if they were from Hartselle. The young man told me he was from Danville, in the eighth grade and played in the band. So I just assumed they had driven to Hartselle to come to the nativity. Actually, the church had not been their original destination. They had been driving to Hartselle and saw the spotlight that had been illuminating the sky for the past few days. He told his Mom they should follow the light and maybe find a manager scene. I am glad they followed our version of the Bethlehem star and enjoyed the presentation of the Savior’s birth.

Just as the Magi over 2,000 years ago traveled by the light of the star:

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11 (NIV)

We are still able to seek the miracle of Jesus’ birth. Even if we follow the light generated from electricity and travel by an internal combustion engine to follow the star, celebrating of the birth of God’s son empowers those who still seek to worship Him. God set the stars in the sky and each clear night they are visible, reminding us of the power and glory He beholds. Follow His star this Christmas season by whatever means necessary. The Savior is still waiting, asking us to follow Him.

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.