Devotional:
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’” “When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1–2; 9–11
The wise men saw a star break into the darkness and knew a King had been born. They didn’t admire the sign from a distance, they went searching. Their journey was a true treasure hunt, and when they finally found Jesus, they rejoiced with overwhelming joy, fell down in worship, and opened their treasures before Him. Jesus is our Treasure. Jesus is that same treasure for us today and the response of the Wise Men reminds us that the pursuit of Christ leads to joy, surrender, and worship. In this season of prayer and fasting, we are not just giving things up, we are digging deeper. As we lay aside comforts and distractions and intentionally filling that space with more of God, we are reminded that our greatest reward is not what God gives, but God Himself! Like the treasure hidden in the field (Matthew 13:44), He is worth laying everything else aside to pursue. Jesus is also our Light. The star that guided the wise men was pointing to something greater—Jesus Himself. Scripture also tells us that those living in darkness have seen a great light, and that same light still breaks into darkness today, shines in hard seasons, and guides us when we don’t know the way forward. He didn’t just bring light; He is the Light. Whether you are waiting on a promise, believing for healing, or walkingthrough uncertainty, Christ is your hope. He meets us in the searching, in the waiting, and in the surrender. As this fast comes closer to an end, we must be intentional about what we allow back into our lives. When regular routines return, distractions will compete for our devotion and try to pull our hearts away from Christ. Some things demand firm, healthy boundaries, but others, especially sin, cannot be managed or balanced. They must be laid down completely and surrendered without compromise!
Questions:
1. In what ways have you been intentionally seeking Jesus as your treasure during this fast?
2. Are there any distractions in your life that the Lord may be asking you to place boundaries on, or release entirely?
3. Where do you need Jesus’ light to shine in your life right now?
Prayer:
Lord, You are my greatest treasure and my true light. Help me to seek You with my whole heart and to let go of anything that pulls me away from You. Search me, oh Lord! Shine Your light into every area of my life, bringing clarity and freedom, help me walk in obedience, and deeper intimacy with You. I want more of You, above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.