Warriors Arise: May 20, 2023
Matthew 2:1-6 (NKJV) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
Again, I am humbled. These wisemen, the Magi from the East, have been traveling for quite some time, possibly as long as two years before they find Jesus. This is why Herod sends his army in to kill all of the baby boys that are 2 years old and younger. I would guess they began their journey before Jesus was born, because they saw the stars coming into alignment. However, it was a race against time they really didn't have. The stars didn't stand still for two years. This may be why they were a little "off" in their destination. They also could have gone to Jerusalem, because that is where the kings resided. They might have figured by the time they arrived in Israel, the king of the Jews would be in the palace in Jerusalem.
Have you ever thought you were going to the right location and when you arrived you realized, "I am not in the right place"? Then you pull out the invitation or instructions and realize you have the place wrong, put the wrong directions in your phone, you are there on the wrong day or have the wrong time. I find that is completely frustrating. They followed the star, knowing it would be in Israel and even though they knew, by the Scripture they quoted, the king of the Jews would be born in Bethlehem; it would seem they thought by the time they arrived, he would already be living at the palace in Jerusalem.
Obviously, news did not travel as fast as it does today. When they arrived in Jerusalem it had been nearly two years since they had seen the star, the sign in heaven that the king had been born. They did not know that everyone else seemed to miss the sign! This is also humbling. Many non-believers, those who do not profess Christ as their Savior and Lord, seem to see the things of the spiritual realm a whole lot easier than those of us who know there is a spiritual realm. Why are we, believers, so ready to deny or reason out the spiritual realm, rather than believe it for what it is and seek further understand as to why God would have us see it? I always find it odd or bothersome when I read the following.
Matthew 16:1 (NKJV) Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.
Now, you want a sign? God has already given them a sign, thirty years earlier and they missed it! The blind will always be blind, until they truly want to know the truth, instead of trying to prove their stance, which is ignorance. They were not coming to Jesus to learn or be set free from the blindness in their mind and soul. They were coming to Jesus as a blind person not wanting to see.
This so compels me. I want to know the truth. I want to see the truth. I don't want to be so stubborn that I am blinded to the truth of God, unwilling to learn, to see the new thing God is doing, or the way out He is providing. Jesus was there and came so that He could set the captives free. He wanted His people, the chosen of God, to be set free from the captivity in their mind and in their heart. They needed a heart to believe God had brought them Salvation and He was the very one standing in front of them.
It is a little scary to think that God could have the very answer I need for my freedom standing right in front of me, speaking directly to me and I miss it, by clinging to my ignorance, the blindness of my soul and heart.
Father, I come to You. I do not want to miss a sign like the people at the time of the wisemen and I don't want to miss you standing before me like the Pharisees and Sadducees. God, I want see the signs You send and Your presence in front of me. This is why I seek after You. This is why I pursue You. I want to be right where You are, doing exactly what You would have for me to do. I want to be bringing people to You instead of discouraging people from seeing You. I want to pursue You with every fiber of my being. You are my God and You make a way. There is not miracle worker beside You. There is no other strength that will get me through. There is no other peace that will calm the storm within me or surrounding me. You are the One who brings salvation to my soul, freedom to my mind and restoration to my body. You are the one who redeems me from my sins and sets me ablaze to testify of Your goodness. I pursue You with all my heart, with all my soul, with by body and with all my strength in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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