Corona Devo 291

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem...wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?"...When King Herod heard this he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  ~Matthew 2:1-3

It was not just Herod, in his jealousy and self-preservation that missed/misunderstood/mistook the true meaning of what the birth of Jesus meant for him.  It was also all Jerusalem with him that were deeply disturbed. 

We know about Herod's response and misguidance--in hating Jesus because he did not want to give up his reign and power as king.  But that tiny phrase after Herod made me catch my breath when I read it today for what seemed like the first time.

When King Herod heard this he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  ~Matthew 2:3

People like you and me, people who had been reading the Scriptures their entire lives foretelling of a coming Savior missed Jesus and His significance when He was born.

They were expecting something else.  Someone else.  They expected a royal or militant delivery of a Savior, not an infant delivered in the squalor of a stable.  They knew of the coming Savior, but they when He arrived, they misunderstood, or chose to to believe otherwise.  

Dear Jesus, please guard our hearts and open our eyes to YOU!  Do not allow us to be misguided or to look for You, Your Presence, and Your Deliverance in other things.  If we (even unknowingly!) are missing You today and in the midst of our lives right now--wake us up to the reality and truth of Who You are and how You are meeting us.  We DO NOT want to choose to believe otherwise!  Lord, we want only to be wise in You.   

King Herod and "all of Jerusalem" were "deeply disturbed".  How many of us can say the same right now?  Most of our lives we have skated along with a few ups and downs, but Covid/politics/isolation/emotions have absolutely caused us to be deeply disturbed in ways/depths we have never experienced before.  

That is how all of Jerusalem was feeling when they "missed the arrival" of the Savior (and ours!) being born among them.  Are we missing something?  Please don't let us, Lord.  Don't let us be satisfied otherwise or in other ways.

All of Jerusalem missed you, Lord.  They missed your purpose in their lives at that moment in time.  We too are at a pivotal/unprecedented time in our lives--open our eyes to You and what you are doing right now.  

You came differently than they were expecting, and so they would not even open their eyes and hearts to You.  They missed you, Jesus.  They completely misunderstood your coming and your gift in coming.  

Lord, forgive us if this is us.  If we are MISSING YOU in all of this.  Humble us, Lord.  Allow us to refocus on You and what you are doing right now in us, our lives, and our world.  Jesus, we love You and we need You.  We do not want to miss how you are appearing today, throughout all of this turmoil, and right in front of us.  

Today, let's take a moment to examine what is causing us to be "deeply disturbed".  Is it people?  Is it the beliefs of others?  Is it fear?  Is it disappointment?  Is it change?  Is it dealing-with-ourselves?

Lord, You are present in what disturbs us.  You are very probably working through that very thing to reach us.  Soften our hearts to get-past the situation-we-were-not-expecting, and to receive Your Message, whatever that may be for each of us.  

People like you and me, people who have been reading the Scriptures our entire lives may be missing Jesus and the significance of what He is wanting to accomplish/birth/deliver into our lives right now and today.  

Lord, remove the disturbances from our hearts, relating us to the people of Jerusalem who missed You, and instead let our hearts journey with the wise men who were seeking You.  Today, let us ask, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews" (Matthew 2:2).

Blessings,

sarah
https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/

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