December 24th, 2025 Devotional

💧 Living Water Vineyard Devotion

Wednesday — Two Days from Christmas 🎄

Joy Pursues — The Wise Men

Joy doesn’t stop with the announcement.

It moves.

It pursues.

It follows light through dark places.

The Christmas story doesn’t just include shepherds nearby—

it also includes Magi from the East who travel a great distance because something in the heavens caught their attention.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

(Matthew 2:10)

Promise has become presence.

And when they arrive:

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him.”

(Matthew 2:11)

📌 Joy always overflows into worship when Jesus is truly seen.

⸻

✨ Who Were the Magi—and Why the Joy?

The Magi were not kings.

They were wise men—scholars, astrologers, advisors from the East.

Many believe they had access to the Hebrew Scriptures through the writings of Daniel, who had served in Babylon centuries earlier.

They studied the stars.

But more importantly, they knew how to recognize a sign from God.

This wasn’t curiosity.

This was expectation.

They followed the star for hundreds of miles because they believed:

God is doing something—and we don’t want to miss it.

And when the star finally stopped—

when searching became seeing—

Scripture says they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

Why?

Because joy grows when hope has a destination.

⸻

🙌 Joy Leads to Worship

The Magi don’t analyze the moment.

They don’t ask questions.

They bow.

Worship in Scripture is not just singing—it’s a physical response.

To worship means to bow low.

In the Bible, worship looks like:

• lifting hands in surrender (Psalm 63:4)

• falling to knees in reverence (Philippians 2:10)

• lying face down before God (Revelation 7:11)

• dancing with joy (2 Samuel 6:14)

There is thanksgiving—thanking God for what He has done.

And praise—declaring who God is.

When joy is real, worship follows.

⸻

🌟 God Still Uses Stars

Years ago, when we first began gathering at Kimwood Park in Clifton, the area was known by a different name.

It wasn’t considered safe.

Kids didn’t really play on the playground.

One Sunday, a woman walked all the way across the park to meet us.

We talked near the playground.

At the time, I had no idea she would become a dear friend—or a pillar in our community.

Brad prayed with her that day.

She had an issue with her foot.

She shared pieces of her story.

Life had been hard.

There was a history of drugs and brokenness.

She came from what many would call “the wrong side of the tracks.”

But there was something unmistakable about her—

she deeply loved people.

And she deeply loved her family.

She didn’t just attend.

She leaned in.

She began to serve.

She showed up early.

She stayed late.

She helped wherever there was a need.

And over time, something began to happen.

I don’t know much about how stars are formed,

but I know there’s often an explosion before the light.

That’s what I saw in her.

There was an explosion of grace—

and then light.

People were drawn to it.

She didn’t preach sermons.

She lived one.

I watched her lead friends toward Jesus.

One of them was a practicing witch—

who encountered the power of God and was set free.

Another was a woman named Crystal—

once on the FBI’s most wanted list as a drug runner—

who came to know the Lord and found new life.

And then came this Sunday.

What may have been the most moving moment of all

was watching a large part of her family walk into church together.

Two grown daughters.

A son-in-law.

Grandchildren.

Some of them may have never been in church before.

They stood.

They watched worship.

They sang.

And I thought:

God still uses stars to draw people to the manger.

Not perfect people.

Not polished people.

Just surrendered people.

⸻

⭐ Maybe You’re Meant to Be a Star

The Magi didn’t become the light.

They pointed to it.

Maybe you were meant to be a star:

• to a neighbor

• to a coworker

• to a family member

• to a friend

Maybe an invitation to Christmas Eve

is how someone else begins their journey toward Jesus.

You don’t have to convince anyone.

You just have to point.

Joy pursues.

Light draws.

And worship changes hearts.

⸻

🎶 Worship Response

🎵 O Come Let Us Adore Him

⸻

📝 Reflective Questions

1. Who has been a “star” in your life—someone whose obedience quietly pointed you toward Jesus?

2. Where have you seen God bring light out of an explosion or broken season—either in your life or someone else’s?

3. Is there someone God may be inviting you to gently point toward Jesus this Christmas?

What simple step of obedience could you take?

🎄 Two days from Christmas… and joy is still leading the way.