David Lee Martin

“… 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.”” (Matthew 2:1–2 NKJV)

It’s been said on many a Christian Christmas card, “wise men still seek Jesus.”

It is true.

Wisdom is found in Him.

But there are many stars in the sky we can follow. Some burn brightly for just a minute, diverting our attention, others establish their influence in the dark skies promising fulfilment and satisfaction if we will only follow.

What star will you choose to chase?

Fame, fortune, peace at all costs, the world’s ways and whims?

Scripture teaches that satan parades as an angel of light:

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14 KJV)

His brightness is dazzling. His schemes so subtle they are hard to discern. He orchestrates the constellations in the lower heavens, lifting one and shaming others, giving the passing trophies of this world to whomever he pleases:

“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.” (Luke 4:5–7 KJV)

There are glories of this world, many, each shining to draw its moth-like victims.

Then there is a glory not of this world, a star that leads to Jesus.

Which one will you follow?

“My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden…” (Luke 1:46–48 KJV)

Mary’s magnificent hymn powerfully typifies the heart of worship that the Father seeks.

However high one may seem in earthly eyes we are all of lowly estate, as low as earth compared to heaven, yet the God of Heaven regards us with limitless affection.

Knowing we are loved, noticed, appreciated, and applauded by the only One with any right to measure, instills a confidence to step into the adventure of faith with far less fear then venturing there alone.

Your creative call is one attended by a great cloud of witnesses cheering your every faith-filled step, and watched over and directed by the chief musician, the orchestrator of every good thing – God Himself.

A grateful spirit, rejoicing in the Lord, spills through to the soul, filling our mind, will, and emotions with an appreciation for all God has done, and keen expectation of good for what He is yet to do.

God is indeed generous, and an attitude of gratitude acts like a magnet pulling His blessings into your orbit.

While the world provokes grasping for every nugget of stuff it produces, Father instead invites us to peace that passes understanding. Abounding or abased we know we have an inheritance incorruptible.

Papa regards our low estate and looks with love on our feeble frame, bringing Godlike wonders to the world through weak and fallible vessels. The miracle that glory finds expression through imperfect humans like you and I makes the marvel of grace all the more magnificent.

My soul doth indeed magnify the Lord!

As shepherds watched their flocks one of God’s most spectacular suddenlies happened!

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.” (Luke 2:8–9 NLT)

Heaven breaks in!

Ordinary lives encountering the extraordinary power and presence of God’s realm bursting into their existence, never to be the same again.

Such encounters are the invitation to go seek Jesus and discover the Doorway that made such heavenly invasion possible. God encounters will always point to Jesus. Mark that one down. It will keep your feet from diversions and deceptions.

“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go … Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”” (Luke 2:15 NLT)

Through your work as an artist, author, influencer, born-again human being, you also act as a conduit for this wonderful world of God’s glory. Your work and words are a doorway that offer glimpses of something greater.

Like angels of old, we come with good tidings of great joy.

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV)

Your work goes beyond the paint daubs on the canvas. It surpasses the ink splats on the page. Your song is more than vibes in the ether.

You herald a new world, a new day, and a fresh hope with every expression of Christ in you!

The creative life is one of adventure. It seeks to cross the boundaries and discover fresh ways to communicate. The Christian creative connects with something (purpose) and someone (the Creator) bigger than themselves. And just in case you have not yet realised, God is not boring!

He invites His children into a life of adventurous faith.

The idea that God consigns His people to perpetual pewdom is foreign to the Scriptures. He is the commissioner of every great artistic work, and YOU are one of them.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT-SE)

God’s works of grace are made to be displayed.

That word “masterpiece” is the Greek word “poiema” from which we get our word poem.

His word is creative and you, a unique and still-being-written poem on the pages of time, are an expression of God’s heart. Not some dusty mind-numbing tome or replica – a divine and winsome expression of Papa’s joy.

As C S Lewis said “We are a divine work of art.”

He has taken his finger and inscribed your life on the pages of history in the most beautiful, majestic manner. Your story is still being written, your path unfolding in ever increasing glory.

As a work of art you live out and display your new nature in Christ – a vibrantly creative, adventurous nature, unshackled from mundanity. Even if stuck in a room there are realms you explore unseen by naked eye or darkened heart.

God’s work in Christ has taken what was an unchiselled lump of cold stone and turned it in to a heart of flesh, beating with the rhythms of heaven. You are set free for freedom, not for the sad and dutiful run of religion.

I pray that your artistic adventure, the poem that you express through fearless living, will be boldly displayed in this coming year.

The desire to be happy is universal. The avenues to happiness are multiplicious. Yet the people who actually arrive at contentment station are few.

Is happiness something we should strive for, or is there a deeper vein to drill? Perhaps the idea that happiness is just one purchase or holiday away is false? Maybe the lie that more will make us marvelous is part of our problem?

Drowning under the deluge of deals shimmied out in the Friday and festive sales leaves one wondering if there could be more to life than a new spin dryer or an air fryer?

Can I contend with an itchy thought? Maybe these soothers we reach are tranquillizers we take to keep our hearts numb to reality.

The world is not what it claims to be. It is burning to the ground, friends.

The life you desire, however opulent, will never scratch the relentless discontent that scrapes your insides.

Where?

Peter in his first letter spoke to “those who have settled down alongside a pagan population, sown as seed” (1 Peter 1:1 Wuest NT)

We live in Babylon. In the world. But we cannot be of the world if we want to make a real difference.

I’m so aware of my own immersion in the smash and grab culture that seeks only its own pleasures. Covenant breaking, constantly-on culture that craves only the next thing, never satisfied with the present.

Settled alongside, camped toward Sodom (Genesis 13:12), it’s way too easy to become Lottish in our love for this world’s accolades and trinkets.

Before we know it we’re inside the gates handing over our sons and daughters.

Be careful my creative brothers and sisters. Culture is pervasive. It creeps up on you, then into your thinking.

We are urged as armed-and-dangerous representatives of another Kingdom to guard our hearts and to be renewed in the spirit of our minds.

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” (Ephesians 4:23 KJV)

The very essence of our thinking must be different. Uncoupled from the feed of liberal modernity and plugged firmly into eternal truth.

The media is the sluice gate for a million doctrines, shovelled into the atmospheres of our homes. Even with the faucet switched low the drip-drip of false doctrine eventually seeps through into everyday conversation and values.

When?

Peter not only spoke of where we live. He also spoke of ‘When’ we live.

We live in a time in which we are:

“guarded by the power of God though faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in a last season which is epochal and strategic in its significance.” (1 Peter 1:5, Wuest)

The last seasons are upon us, beloved.

Being so placed we need to be vigilant. Like a soldier on guard watching the walls we must be clear on this one thing. The enemy prowls and plots relentlessly how he might breach our boundaries and cause our downfall.

In times of war, there’s no room to double down on comforts. Epochal moments are marked by epochal people.

Pursuit of pleasure may be the culture, but the pursuit of God and His righteousness is the order of the day. The devil’s first and most successful play is not to resist God’s people, but rather invite them. Come inside he says. You’ve pitched your tent near the gate, why not take a few more compromised steps and put a little less distance between yourself and the world in which you live?

How?

Knowing the season we are in girds our mind and informs our actions. Thus equipped, “in this last season you are to be constantly rejoicing with a joy that expresses itself in a triumphant exuberance.”

How do we overcome and stay true to our Lord?

Constant rejoicing.

Joy that overflows in triumphant exuberance.

This may be a day of devils running rampant, but is also the day of the Churches greatest triumph!

The dark backdrop Papa is allowing to be staged will make the glaring light of the gospel all the more bright when it shines.

Worship is your weapon. Joy is the strength you harness!