Advent Devotional

Remember my church's Advent devotional booklet that I mentioned a couple posts ago? Today is "my" day! When I first signed up to write the devotion, I got to look over the passages for each day and pick which one I wanted. When I flipped to this one, the message I got from it leaped out at me immediately, which almost never happens when I read the Bible. I consider it a cool God moment. Anyway, here's what I wrote, I hope it helps bring you closer to God on this lovely, cold Advent day.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matthew 2: 1-3

Which character do you identify with in this story? Do you identify with the Magi, who traveled a long distance away from home in search of a Messiah? Or do you identify with King Herod, who was disturbed to hear that a Messiah had come to earth? As much as we might not want to admit it, King Herod’s thinking was understandable, at least if you look at the situation from an earthly standpoint. But let’s look at these characters from a different point of view.

From God’s perspective, the Magi left everything in their lives behind to travel a long distance in search of the Messiah. It was probably easier for them to do that than we might understand because they knew what they were looking for. Prophecies told them that God had come to earth in human form; He was concrete, someone they could see and talk to. Throughout all of history that hadn’t happened often, but here was there chance to see God in person! They also knew the significance of what they were looking for, that the prophecies and promises of the scriptures were coming true through the birth of this child. They came by themselves, willing to go the distance even if others didn’t believe. And they came to worship, one of the things that God desires most from his children.

King Herod’s reaction to the Magi’s news was probably not what God was hoping for. Instead of rejoicing at the news that God had come to Earth in the form of the Messiah, King Herod was disturbed, troubled, anxious, and perhaps even suspicious. He may have felt threatened by the prospect of an authority on Earth that had more power than him. And as the leader of the people of Jerusalem, he led a whole city of God’s children into his doubt and worry as well, instead of worship.

What is our reaction to the news that God is in our world? Are we excited, like the Magi? Are we willing to re-prioritize our life to make room to seek after and worship God? Or are we disturbed, skeptical, suspicious, even threatened by someone claiming to be God’s presence in our world?

The Good News is that the Magi were right. And because Jesus came to this world, we have the opportunity, as God’s forgiven and redeemed children, to follow in the footsteps of the Magi. The decision to follow God has always been left in our hands. Will you make time to seek after and worship our Lord this season? Will you encourage those around you to do the same?