Matthew Study: 2:2

"... For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him..."

Lest we think that the salvation of the planet rests solely on our shoulders, think again. God's love and concerned for those yet to repent is much greater than yours will ever be. He has seen hell, you haven't. He knows fully the costs involved, you do not. They are his sheep, not yours. He has done - and is doing - everything he can do in order to woo, coax, invite, push (?), convince, and encourage all who are outside the manger's Saving Grace into the knowledge of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. He uses everything from secular music to personal situations that demand a rescue. Everything is fair game for the Invitation to be received. He even uses Creation.

For Creation is a most excellent evangelist!

All of creation wreaks with the incarnational nature of Jesus Christ. As Paul's shadow healed the sick, and as Jesus' crucifixion caused the ground to tremble, so does everything -  especially created order - bear witness to the all the hallowed Invitation to participate in the emerging Life of God.

These wise men from the east were not jews but gentile pagans steeped in occult-like devotion to the stars and their movements. And even in that state, God's guidance was revealed to them - in their darkness. He spoke to these wise men, in their deception, and led them to Christ through their deception. Through Creation he wooed them to the Manger's Grace - a baby Boy - which was, and still is, the ultimate incarnation of God in Creation.

Why? Because he loved them more and any of could could ever imagine.

This doesn't relieve us of our responsibility to be lights to the world - to pray, to share, to administer justice, and heal the sick - aka "The Great Commission" (for, indeed, we, too, are are part of this creation which wreaks with the Invitation). But it does remind us that we are co-workers with God in the business of witnessing Christ's love to the his world. This is not entirely on our shoulders.

So take heart, you who embrace the responsibility of "saving your family", or your "spouse", or your "wayward daughter".  If your heart is grieved for the lost, think of his heart. Can he do no less for those we yearn to see come to Christ?