December 13, 2024 Devo

One of the reasons we’re so comfortable with the story of Jesus’ birth is that it’s not personal to us. It’s a story. It’s history. It’s an enchanting tale of a baby born in a manger. The birth of Jesus to us is a bunch of cute kids in shepherd and angel costumes acting and singing on stage.
But what if the story of Jesus’ birth became personal? What if acknowledging His birth meant giving up your independence, giving up your authority, and giving up your ability to rule your own life? What if it wasn’t just a story about a baby being born in a manger, but someone who was invading your life to rule over you and to whom you had to submit in every way? The story is not so cute anymore, is it?
Our passage today says, “King Herod was deeply disturbed.” Why? Because he had just been told that a new king had been born. If the Jews had a king, then HE wouldn’t be able to rule over them. His power would be threatened. His authority would be undermined. He would lose all that he’d worked so hard to gain. Herod was disturbed because he understood what the Wise Men were saying. This wasn’t a cute story about a newborn baby. This was the story about a King who had come to take His rightful place as ruler over His people. Jesus’ birth was personal to Herod. It should be personal to us as well.
Listen very carefully to what I’m saying to you. Jesus didn’t come to delight you with a tale of a babe born in a manger. He came as King to become the ruler of hearts and lives—YOUR heart and life! He has come to have authority over your life. The way you live, how you spend your time and money, and how you conduct your business are all to be carried out in the manner that HE desires. He hasn’t come to do your will. He has come to sit on the throne of your life and give you the privilege of doing His. If that disturbs you a bit as it did Herod, then good. That means the story of Jesus’ birth just became personal. And that’s what God intended all along. That’s God’s Word for you today.