Psalm 119:10-11 CSB – 10 I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. 11 I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.

Psalm 16:1-2 CSB – 1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you. 2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.”

Curiosity. The wise men from the East were not certain for what they were searching. They were following a star that they believed would lead them to a king.

Obedience. The shepherds came to Bethlehem in response to an amazing angelic announcement. They obeyed what the angel told them.

God draws people to himself. God is the initiator. He places desperation, curiosity, desire in our hearts to draw us to him.

Psalm 73:25-26 CSB – 25 Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.

God, thank you for drawing me to yourself. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for putting that desire in my heart. I wouldn’t seek you on my own. You chose me. You drew me. You saved me. You accepted me.

Light in darkness . . .turn on a light in a room full of windows on a sunny day, and . . .you are just wasting electricity. But a windowless closet, or a dark hallway in the middle of the night, even a small night light seems to shine brightly. It’s the contrast . . .

Matthew 5:13-16 CSB – 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 “No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Just as “God had a plan” in sending Jesus to “save his people from their sins” —

He also has a plan in leaving us here, in this dark world,  to shine light pointing to God, pointing to the only Savior.

Philippians 2:12-18 CSB – 12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

Purpose –not obedience so people will see how good I am, but so people will be drawn to the Creator and Master and Savior who is so worthy of our obedience;

not grumbling or complaining because I am a clueless and fake Pollyanna, but because I have a Savior who loves me and cares for me, who is merciful and sovereign; I am grateful because I don’t deserve Him;

my suffering is not punishment, but an opportunity to demonstrate that God truly is enough, He is Immanuel.

Purpose.

God has a plan.