Invited From The Outside

 “All are invited into a relationship with him. That’s the value of our God. He loves you.” - Pastor Matthew Johnson

Two thousand years ago, the most important moment in human history took place, and almost no one expected how God would announce it. If a king or queen were celebrating the birth of a child, the guest list would be predictable. Family would be there. Friends would be invited. Powerful leaders, influential figures, and wealthy individuals would be present because who attends an event reflects its importance.

Yet when God sent His Son into the world, the invitation list looked nothing like that. Instead of rulers and religious elites, God invited people who were unexpected, overlooked, and even considered outsiders. The nativity scene is more than a familiar Christmas image. It is a historical account that reveals the heart of God.

At the center of that moment was Jesus, God in the flesh. God became man not to condemn the world but to save it. Jesus entered creation to restore a broken relationship between God and humanity. His birth marked the beginning of God’s rescue plan, a plan that would ultimately lead to the cross.

Surrounding Jesus were people whose lives had been interrupted by God’s call. Mary, a young woman from Nazareth with no influence or power, received an angelic announcement that would change her life forever. Joseph, whose plans were suddenly redirected, accepted the responsibility to love, protect, and raise Jesus. Shepherds, social outcasts who lived among animals, were invited to witness the moment. And then there were the magi.

The Gospel of Matthew introduces the magi as wise men from the east who arrived in Jerusalem asking a bold question: where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? They explained that they had seen a star rise and had come to worship Him.

The star was not a spectacle meant for everyone. It was a sign meant for those who were looking. These men studied the stars. They were attentive. They were searching. God used something familiar to them to point them toward something greater.

God still works this way. He uses signs to get attention, often in personal and specific ways. Sometimes those signs look like moments that feel coincidental but are too precise to ignore. Sometimes they come through disruptions, seasons where life suddenly changes and forces deeper questions. Other times they come through people, Scripture, sermons, or moments of awe that stir something deeper in the heart.

God is consistently drawing people toward Himself. The question is not whether He is speaking, but whether people are open to seeing and hearing.

When the magi arrived in Jerusalem, their question disturbed King Herod. He was powerful, influential, and obsessed with maintaining control. The idea of another king threatened him. Instead of responding with humility, Herod responded with fear.

Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes, men who knew the Scriptures better than anyone else. They correctly identified Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born, quoting the words of the prophet. Yet despite their knowledge, they did nothing. They were indifferent. They had information but no response.

The magi, however, responded differently. When they learned the direction they needed to go, they went. When the star appeared again, they followed. God revealed truth, and they responded with action.

Faith always requires response. God reveals Himself so people can respond, not simply observe. Knowledge alone does not transform lives. Movement does.

The magi were not part of God’s covenant people. They were Gentiles, astrologers, and spiritual outsiders by every standard. They lived far away physically and even farther away spiritually. Yet God invited them.

God sent them a sign. God guided them on their journey. God welcomed them into the presence of His Son.

This moment declared something powerful to the world. God’s invitation was never meant to be exclusive to a certain group. All are invited into a relationship with Him. No background, failure, or label disqualifies someone from God’s invitation.

Many people feel distant from God because they believe they do not belong. Some believe their past disqualifies them. Others believe they are not disciplined enough or spiritually mature enough. But the story of the magi declares a different truth. Everyone begins on the outside until God welcomes them in.

Peace with God does not come from finally getting everything right. It comes from believing that God wants relationship and trusting Him at His word.

When the magi finally reached their destination, they did not find Jesus in a palace or on a throne. They found Him in an ordinary house. There, they bowed down and worshiped. They offered costly gifts. They surrendered their plans, even traveling home by a different route after being warned in a dream.

Their search was over because they had found Jesus.

They did not stop at the star. They did not stop at the palace. They did not stop with religious knowledge. They kept pursuing until they found the true answer.

Jesus is not one of many answers. He is the answer. While culture may claim that every path leads to the same destination, Scripture teaches something different. There is only one name under heaven by which people are saved, and that name is Jesus. This truth is exclusive, but it is also radically inclusive because everyone is invited.

God sent angels to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. God placed a star in the sky for the magi. But there is one sign given for all people and all generations.

The cross.

Jesus, who never sinned, became the sacrifice for humanity. God placed the weight of sin on Him so that relationship could be restored. Jesus took punishment so others could have peace. He endured real pain and real death for a reason.

Scripture says that for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross. That joy was relationship. He looked beyond suffering and saw people worth saving.

The invitation still stands. God is still drawing hearts. God is still calling for surrender. And what He offers in return is greater than anything the world can provide.

If you are looking for a church in Lancaster or a church in Logan, The Tree Church would love to walk with you. With campuses in Lancaster, Ohio, and Logan, Ohio, The Tree Church gathers every Sunday at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM to worship Jesus and grow together in faith.

The Lancaster Campus is located at 721 N. Memorial Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130.
The Logan Campus is located at 36 Hocking Mall, Logan, OH 43138.

Whether you are exploring faith, returning to church, or looking for a community to grow with, The Tree Church is a place where outsiders are welcomed, and lives are shaped by Jesus