Imagine going to a birthday party, a really big impressive gathering, and not even knowing whose birth was being celebrated? Suppose most of the people there didn’t know, or care, either? What if the person himself hadn’t even been invited? That’s often the way Christmas seems to be here and now. It’s Jesus’ birthday, but often He is isn’t invited to the party.
There is no excuse for not knowing what is being celebrated at this time of the year. If anyone wants to find out it’s easy to get the answer. In Jesus’ day Herod didn’t know what was being celebrated when the Magi came to town. So he asked the religious rulers who knew what the Bible said and they told him. They even knew where He was to be born – Bethlehem. It’s pretty clear he believed them for he responded by trying to kill the baby they told him about. He knew, in his mind, that the long-awaited Jewish king was born, but he was more interested in protecting his own kingship then acknowledging this new King, even if He was God!
There are many today as well who know, at least in their heads, that Jesus is God come to earth and that’s what Christmas is all about. But they, like Herod, are more concerned about staying on the throne in their own kingdom. “My kingdom come, my will be done” is their prayer. It’s all about them. Jesus is fine and good as long as He is making life better for them. If He threatens to challenge their control of their own lives, they do whatever they can to “kill” Him, just like Herod did.
Unfortunately that can also be true of us who love and serve the Lord. We can become more concerned about what Jesus can do for us than what we can do for Jesus. We know better, but the spirit of Herod lives on today. I don’t want it to live on in me. Make sure it doesn’t in you!
Matthew 2:3-5, 16 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, … 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Ask God to show you if you are more interested in building your kingdom than His. Try to focus your thoughts and prayers on Him this day and not on yourself or your needs.
INDIA UPDATE & PRAYER REQUEST: The latest book, “Why We Believe,” is finished and printed. We will be giving it out at the conferences this year. It is about apologetics, helping pastors understand and defend their faith from so many there who question it. This makes a total of 10 books we give each pastor who attends. I think these books have a even deeper, longer lasting impact than the conferences themselves. And they reach more men than just those who come to the conferences. Pray God would use the books which have been given out and the books we will give out this year. Pray for the finances to cover the cost of these books as well. It adds up quickly now with 10 books! If you would like an ecopy of this book or any of the other 9 I have written you can download them at https://www.christiantrainingonline.org/our-ministries/india/books/ or email me at jerry@schmoyer.net and I’ll send you a digital copy of any books you want.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE MARRIAGE RETREAT Every year I lead a marriage retreat in the Lancaster, PA, area. This year the topic will be “Winning The Battle for Your Family” and will be about spiritual warfare for individuals, married couples and families with children. If this sounds interesting to you we’d love to have you join us. You can find more information at https://www.christiantrainingonline.org/our-ministries/family/marriage-retreat/ or email me at jerry@schmoyer.net. We have a limited number of hotel rooms so let me know if you are interested.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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