“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.’ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.’ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country BY ANOTHER ROUTE.” —Matthew 2.1-12
Problem: If you keep doing what you’ve ALWAYS done, then you’ll keep ending up where you already are.
Challenge: Commit to the ROUTE 22 journey.
1. SEARCH carefully.
“He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.’” —Matthew 2:8
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” —Jesus, Matthew 6:33
“You will seek me and find me when you SEEK me with all your heart.” —Jeremiah 29:13
2. SHARE generously.
“Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” —Matthew 2:11b
“It is more blessed to GIVE than to receive.” —Jesus, Acts 20:35
“Whatever you do, work at it with ALL your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” —Colossians 3:23
3. SURRENDER unconditionally.
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him.” —Matthew 2:11a
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” —Proverbs 16:9
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
Truth: A genuine experience with Jesus always leads to traveling by another route.
“And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
Map of Jonah’s travels
“Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” —the apostle Paul, Philippians 3:5-8
John Wesley Covenant Prayer
“I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low for You. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, oh glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You are mine, and I am Yours. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”