Tuesday, December 13 – Matthew 2:5-8

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”

When someone asks you to do something, have you ever thought to yourself, What will this mean for me? We all have a desire to protect ourselves. This can be helpful to us, protecting us from harmful things but there are times our desire for self-preservation can extend further than the essential and become a self-preservation mindset for our image, status, and so much more. This is where Herod was. Instead of seeing hope in the message of the Messiah’s coming, he was brought to despair and fear. He wondered how this child might threaten him and his place in the world. He went as far as to lie and attempt to deceive the wise men so that he could gain the information that would allow him to protect himself. It is easy to point the finger and see what was wrong with Herod’s actions, but his tendency is not too far from a place we often find ourselves.

As we juggle so many things in the holiday season between gifts, parties, and decorations, it can feel like just another activity to celebrate the One who is at the center of it all. The time it would take to read our Bible, pray together, or have a family time of worship may threaten the way we want to spend our time. At the end of the day, it is not hard to make the holiday all about us, forgetting that it is Jesus we are worshiping in this season. Don’t miss out on the joy and hope of Jesus today. Having Him as the center of your celebration is the most wonderful gift! Missing Him would be passing through this special time on empty, left only wanting more even as you receive more items. Take this opportunity to reflect on God with us, the hope of glory.

• What would it look like to worship Jesus during this holiday season?
• When have you questioned what following Jesus might mean for you?
• Pray and ask God how you can keep Him at the center of your holiday plans.