Matthew 2:7-8…….Ready

Matthew 2:7-8…….Ready

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Continued From Book

“Teaches how each must make their own journey of faith. We can’t send others to bring back news to us – we must go ourselves and find out if this whole Jesus stuff is real.”⇔  People today say, “I don’t know whether this Christianity stuff is all it’s cracked up to be. “I don’t know whether Jesus was just a good teacher or something more.” They never do much more than go to church on Christmas and Easter, they never really study the Bible, they never investigate the facts, they just go through life wondering if it’s all true. If you’re on the fence and not sold out to the whole Jesus thing and you’re not sure why being a part of the church is worth it. I invite you to investigate it for yourself.  Don’t just go by what other people say, find out for yourself, than report it and share it with others when you do.

“Warns not all worship is genuine and sincere. Pretend worshipers like Herod may fool the “Wise men”, but not God!” ⇔ We might not have the same sort of awful intentions as Herod, but when we approach the throne of Christ with anything less than genuine sincerity and gratitude in our hearts, then our worship is a farce.

“Warns against hiding things from God. Been thinking about plotting or doing evil? Think again, God’ watching!” ⇔ We’re all prone in thinking we can hide things from God, that maybe God won’t see or notice. Do you assume that God is too busy with evil people like Herod that He doesn’t have time for our petty sins and the little things we try to cover up and pretend aren’t that bad, that we’ve done things far worse and He forgave us for it? The lesson here is, don’t think you can conceal matters from God, He sees everything and knows everything about us. He even knows our thoughts.

“Displays the folly in thinking we can thwart the purposes and plans of God by our own manipulation and schemes.”

“Warns how many can claim noble and lofty causes, but who are really in it for themselves and what they can get.”

“Displays how many put on a religious face/show when it suits their needs in getting votes, favors, and special treatment.”⇔ Many play off being religious when its to their advantage in promoting their own agendas! God isn’t impressed with your fake show of spirituality! You may have people fooled, but you can’t fool God!

“Warns of those who make loud professions of faith. Nothing Herod did showed him to be violent. Herod said the right words. Herod sought out the Priests. Herod searched the Bible for answers. Herod blessed their journey.” ⇔ How many have had someone say “Let me know when you get that new bible, and we can have bible study together at your house, when their real interest was dating your sister. A church once needed nursery workers. One gentleman who had been attending church for awhile signed up to be a worker in the nursery. He was well behaved and enthusiastically worshipped during services. He attended the required membership and leadership courses. Yet no one knew that he had served time in jail for molesting children.

“Teaches how we are responsible for bringing others to Jesus.  Are you prepared to witness to those who ask about Jesus?” ⇔ Those who are seeking Jesus should find Him in our witness. They should find Him in our actions. They should find Him in our knowledge and study of the bible. They should find Him in our godly counsel and advice. They should find Him in our love, character, values, and virtues. They should find Him in our patience, kindness,  and compassion.

“Unlike the Magi, we need not travel to Bethlehem to look for Jesus. We only need the eyes of faith that is looking to the Cross and believing on Jesus, and we shall find Him ever near to us, and forever our Savior.” (cf. Rom. 10:8-10, Rev. 3:20)

“What’s strange here is that none of the religious leaders, nor Herod himself went with them. Possible explanations for this is that the religious leaders did not want to go, fearing Herod would suspect they were going to revolt against him. Herod did not want to go out of fear of causing the parents to hide the child or that the Jewish leaders would suspect he wanted to kill the child.”

Additional Notes & Applications

Calls for being diligent in our devotion and commitment to Jesus, always reading, studying, and meditating on His word that we may have a word of hope and encouragement for others. (Do you pray often, do you go to church, do you look for ways to better serve the Lord in order to bring others to Jesus, or are you too busy with other things?)

Calls believers for the same kind of diligence in guiding others who are seeking and asking about Christ. Do you share with others what you know to be true. Or do you bring word to your family and friends whenever the Lord does a work in your life or a movement in your Church?

Calls for being open and available in answering peoples questions and concerns they may have about God and our faith. If someone stopped and asked you for spiritual direction and advice would you know enough to answer them?  (cf. 1-Pet. 3:15)

Warns against giving lip service to Christ with no real interest in following or obeying Him. Are you simply going through the motions of what’s expected, like tithing and showing up to Church because its the right thing to do?

Warns how not everyone who pretends to care actually does care! Not everyone who make loud religious noises really care about helping others, they’re mostly in it for themselves and what they can get.

Teaches how its not our place to judge, but to help those who are seeking Christ, even though their hearts may be in the wrong place and their seeking insincere.

  (For more Applications get the whole Book)

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