|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
In more than three decades of my Christian life, I have been blest by 2 types of Daily devos'
(matter not exceeding 500 words) in universal Christian literature. Not only those Devos'
which have a different theme everyday but also the ones which revolve around a certain
theme over a period of time, say a fortnight, have richly edified me. In fact, both
styles have their own inherent advantages. If the former style caters to the varying
spiritual needs of a christian from day-to-day, the latter aims 'to ground'
a child of God in a certain subject in order he derives the full benefits of the
deep insightful study of a certain topic, spread over a fixed span of time.
In my Daily devo page, I have consciously tried to go in for 'a blend of both the
styles' whereby within a constant theme, I would be aiming to focus on different
facets of it which admittedly is a closer imitation of the 'Constant theme' style
than the 'Varying topics' one.
As the month of December coincides with the Christmas season, in this month I intend to
dwell exclusively on all the topics revolving around Christmas using the visit of the
Wise man described in Matthew 2 as the base.
Let me wish you a happy and an edifying read… oh yes-MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF US!
Suresh Manoharan
|
|
|
December 10th
Mixed up priorities and Divine Comeuppance
King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a
meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
Matt 2:3
|
| |
| |
How mixed-up, one can be in his priorities? This is the question that would crop-up in one
mind as we look closely at King Herod’s persona as a part of our study of the
Christmas story involving the visit of the Wise men.
Here we see a King who himself wanted and came to know ‘where the God-ordained Messiah would be born’
and then wonder of wonders, very soon he set himself up to kill that very
Christ-Child, on mistaking him for a competitor to his earthly throne! To
understand King Herod’s mind would be trying to understand the working of a
clock running backwards. How can you want to kill the God-ordained Messiah
himself? How can anyone be so mixed-up, in his priorities? Simply put
Sin exposes us sometimes for what we are just as it did King Herod. Individuals neatly wrapped –up in our cocoons.
Our minds would spin as we consider ‘the depth’ of King
Herod’s sin. Not only was he sinning by conspiring to liquidate someone (murder
is sin), but actually sinning very grievously by trying to go against very
plans’ of God after having come to know of them from the right source i.e.… the
Jewish religious leaders with their ready access to the Scriptures.
The result of his sins? You do not have to go beyond
Deuteronomy 32:35 to understand all there is to
understand about Divine comeuppance regarding King Herod. Historian Josephus in
his Antiquities records soberly his torturous death ‘ he died of
ulcerated entrails, putrefied and maggot-filled organs, constant convulsions
and foul breath which neither the physicians nor warm baths could cure’.
Prayer:
Father, history bears witness to the fact that all those who rebelled against Thee have come to a
tragic end. From Pharaoh Rameses to Hitler, the story has been the same. We
pray, eyes of many would be opened to this fact and that they would repent. In
Jesus’ name.
|
| |
Back
Next......
|
|
|
|
|
