Daily Devotional
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
Matthew 2:1-2
Major events demand a response. When the towers fell on September 11th, the nation had to respond. When you receive news that someone you love has passed away, you have to respond. When someone asks you to marry them, you have to respond. Major events do not allow us to sit on the sidelines. They demand something from us.
And there has never been a bigger event in human history than the incarnation of God into human flesh. The eternal God, the one who spoke the universe into existence, compressed Himself into a baby’s body and entered our world. That demands a response.
Matthew 2 presents us with four distinct responses to the arrival of Jesus: hostility, fear, apathy, and worship. Remarkably, these same four responses are still evident today, over two thousand years later. People still respond to Jesus in these same ways. The question Matthew forces us to ask is not merely how did they respond, but how do we respond to the King?
This week, we will examine each of these responses and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal our own hearts. The goal is not guilt but growth, not condemnation but transformation. The King has arrived, and that reality demands something from each of us.
Today's Challenge
When you think about Jesus Christ, what is your honest, gut-level response? Not what you think you should feel, but what you actually feel? How has your response to Jesus changed over the years?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for entering our world. Thank You that You did not remain distant but came near. As I spend this week examining the responses to Your arrival, I ask You to search my heart and show me my true response to You. Give me the courage to be honest with myself and with You. Reveal any areas where I have responded with something other than worship, and draw me closer to Yourself. In Your name I pray, Amen.
