Daily Devotional
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Romans 12:1
We have examined four responses to the arrival of Jesus: Herod’s hostility, Jerusalem’s fear, the scribes’ apathy, and the Magi’s worship. Now comes the most important question: What is your response to the King?
Are you like Herod, treating Jesus as a threat to your control, fighting against His authority in your life? Are you like Jerusalem, paralyzed by fear, more concerned about what might go wrong than what is right? Are you like the scribes, full of knowledge but empty of action, satisfied to know about Jesus but never willing to go to Him? Or are you like the Magi, willing to act on what you know, willing to travel far, sacrifice much, and fall down in worship?
Knowledge without action is worthless. The Magi knew less than the scribes but did far more. They traveled far. They sacrificed much. They worshipped deeply. The scribes knew everything and did nothing.
The King is still demanding a response. He is not asking for perfect knowledge. He is asking for whole-hearted worship. He is not asking you to have all the answers. He is asking you to act on the answer you already have. The wise men gave Jesus the best they had. What are you giving Him? Your time? Your talents? Your treasure? Your surrender?
The King has arrived. At last, the King has come. And that demands a response. What will yours be?
Today's Challenge
Which of the four responses most closely describes your current posture toward Christ? What specific step will you take this week to move toward whole-hearted worship? What is one area where you will give Jesus your best rather than your leftovers?
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your Word this week. Thank You for this passage that has forced me to examine my own heart. If I have been responding to You with hostility, fighting against Your authority, help me to see the futility of that fight. Help me to lay down my weapons and bow before You. If I have been paralyzed by fear, afraid of what following You might cost, give me the courage to trust You more than my circumstances. If I have had head knowledge without heart response, if I have known all about You but never truly come to You, stir my heart to action today. Lord, help me to be like the Magi. Help me to respond to You with whole-hearted worship. Help me to bring You my best, to fall down before You, and to offer myself as a living sacrifice. I thank You that the King has come. At last, the King has arrived. And I worship You this day. In Jesus' name, Amen.
