JOYFUL HEART BLESSINGS 22

"Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and carefully search for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him too!” After this interview the wise men went on their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was." -Matthew 2:7-9

On this final Sunday before Christmas Day, let’s take a moment and sit with these words. Herod’s motives aren’t pure in this interaction — He’s not posturing genuine awe and reverence as the wise men seeking to find Jesus. While he said he wanted to go and worship Jesus, we know there’s much more to the story. Herod felt his kingship was threatened by Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Though Jesus was a newborn baby, others were already working against Him. Even in the mist of the angel’s pure joy, the world’s sin and deceit hung heavy. Oh, how much more evident it is that the world needed a Savior then, and we still do now.

Today, our church echoed these ever-true words from the beloved tune, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, “Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free. From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.” It’s exactly why He came: to free a sinful and fearful people deeply in need of a Savior.

Would we, like the wise men, look up and follow the One who set the stars in place. Herod perhaps reminds us in a way of our own struggles with sin, but Jesus doesn’t leave us there. He still came for us! And friend, He will come again. Let us find our rest in Him now and in the days to come.

Instead of a guided prayer, spend some time with Jesus. Ask Him to show you places in your heart needing restoration from fears or struggles, and thank Him for coming to free you from those things.