December 14, 2024 Devo

December 14th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
The Birth of Jesus – The Magi
(Herod) called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ – Matthew 2:4-6 (NLT)
“Overcoming Our Apathy”

I did an interview this week with a pastor friend of mine back in Ohio. I was in town speaking at a special Christmas service, and he wanted to videotape an interview with me as a part of a special service they are planning for the end of the month. The interview had to do with encouraging people to read the Bible more in the New Year. He knew that I started writing daily devotionals several years ago as a way of helping my own congregation sit with God’s Word daily. He started the interview by sharing the importance of the Bible and how we can’t really grow in our faith effectively without it. Then he asked me the question, “Knowing that, why do you think many people don’t get into God’s Word?” My initial response? Apathy. Many people just have a take-it-or-leave-it attitude when it comes to drawing near to God. All the methods and resources for digesting God’s Word are useless if there isn’t a ”want to” behind them.
The religious leaders that served Herod are a good example. They had heard the news of the Wise Men. They knew there was talk of the Messiah King being born. When Herod asked them where this child was to be born, they knew the answer: Bethlehem. But for all of their knowledge, they lacked the most important part of truly being a man or woman of God. Desire. They just didn’t care enough to go and seek out the child for themselves.
Great heart check question for today. How’s your passion level for drawing close to God? How much desire would say you have to truly want to know God, experience God, and live fully for God? Truthfully, I believe most people want just enough of God to escape hell and make it to heaven. Which is so sad. God wants ALL of us. And He wants us to want ALL of Him. Sit with the Lord for just a few minutes today, and ask Him to light a fresh fire in your heart. Ask Him to fill your heart with hunger and thirst to know Him, love Him, and live for Him. Ask God to take you deeper into His Word, into His Heart, and into His Will than you’ve ever been before. There are a thousand “how to” ways to draw near to God. But the “how to” is useless without the “want to.” Let’s overcome our apathy and go worship the baby for ourselves. That’s God’s Word for you today.