Although the Christmas season is past and the business of the New Year is in full swing, I find myself still pondering the amazing journey of the Wise Men. Of late I have wondered:

How many others saw that bright star in the heavens yet missed its importance?

How many enjoyed the splendor of the stars in the night sky but weren’t compelled by that one brilliant star to embark on a journey to worship a special king?

Perhaps they saw the star with their eyes, but their hearts and minds were full of other concerns – full of their own agendas, their own priorities, and they missed the king.

Thirty years later, there were men who heard this king teach, saw him perform miracles and declare words of wisdom and salvation. Yet, they never recognized him as king. They were never compelled to offer unto him precious gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense. These men were Pharisees, the leading religious leaders of the day. No matter how often they heard Jesus teach or how many miracles they saw him perform, they did not believe he was God’s promised king. They had memorized the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah, proclaiming the details of this coming eternal king. But when he entered their lives, they rejected him.

How could they not believe? How could they not see what others did see? How could they not understand what so many others understood?

Jesus gives us the answer. In response to the Pharisees’ rejection, Jesus said,

“ . . . you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. (John 8:37)

They had no room.

They had no room in their hearts to receive the words that revealed who Jesus truly was. Their hearts were full of their own agendas, full of their own desire to keep the status quo, full of their intent to hold onto their religious power.

That was the tragedy of the Pharisees. They had no room in their hearts to receive the One who would have transformed their lives.

Oh Lord, let there always be abundant room in my heart for your word and for your presence. May I never become so busy or my life so cluttered with my own agenda and priorities, that there is no room for You to move fully and freely in my life.   Amen.