Friday
Matthew 2:12

Let’s focus on the phrase, “The Magi left for their own country by another way.”

– The Magi had come on a long journey to worship Jesus.
– 2:10 says “they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
– And 2:12 says, “They went home by a different way.”

Does that simply mean they took a different directional route going home? Or could it also mean they went home as different people, because of their experience with Jesus, Mary, & Joseph?

I believe Jesus wants each of us to be changed. Jesus wants us to come out of our brokenness and live a life surrendered to him, where he becomes our boss. Jesus desires us to live in such a way that we reflect the change that he brings to our lives. Others should be able to see that change in us.

In just a few days, we will move into 2020. 2019 will no longer be available to us except in our memory. However, if we’re not intentional, we will live 2020 in the exact same way we did in 2019. To bring change is to do some things intentionally different. Jesus desires we choose a new path, a new way home, like the magi did.

Jesus did not just come so we would have something to celebrate each December. He came to bring us life—life to the fullest. He came to give us a way to have a relationship with God the Father.

James Taylor wrote a song with this theme in mind, “Home by Another Way.” Listen here.