After he was a star on the New England Patriots, my friend Benton Reed moved to Austin, joined our church and started helping with our students. Every time I read the Samson story I think of Benton. Now his son Michael plays professional baseball. What do you do after the NFL? Benton has taken up stargazing. He has a serious telescope that takes pictures which show us the skies shouting God’s glory.
Benton has inspired me to ask for a telescope for Christmas. (I wonder if I will get it? We shall see.) Just last night I saw Orion’s belt pointing down at a seriously bright blue star. The name of this serious star is, you guessed it, Sirius. Genesis says in the King James Version, “And he made the stars also.” My God made that beautiful blue star. This increases my awe for God. The whole universe does his bidding.
The Magi were expert star-gazers. So when they saw a new star in the sky, they followed it. It led them from their home all the way to Jerusalem. After visiting with Herod, the star led them seven miles further out to Bethlehem. There they met the mighty Maker of the stars, lying, of all places, in a manger. True, these men watched the stars but they worshiped the Maker of the stars, giving him their gifts. What do we give to the God who gave us the stars and gave us life? We give him our worship, to be sure. My friend T. Grant-Malone says we have not worshiped until we give.
Christina Rossetti captured the heart of worship in the words of a poem, “What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, give him a lamb. If I were a wise man, I’d do my part. What can I give him? Give him my heart." My friend Benton, mighty as a mountain gave Jesus his heart. So did the wise men. T. Grant-Malone did. As did Christina Rossetti. Will we?
