Advent Devotion for December 2nd, the 6th day of Advent

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus into my life and into the life of Your world.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:3-6

 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

                   'But you, Bethlehem, in the land

                    of Judah are by no means least

                    among the rulers of Judah;

                   for out of you will come a ruler who will

                   be the shepherd of my people Israel.'”

Devotional: The religious leaders were the ones Herod consulted to find the answer to the question the Magi put to him, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews?” It is interesting to note that in consulting the religious leaders instead of the political leaders, at some level at least, Herod recognized that the answer was much more significant than just a political forecast.

 Undoubtedly his advisors consulted the prophet Micah who had foretold that Bethlehem was to be the place of birth of the ruler of Israel.

 Although the Magi were not Jews, they undoubtedly expected a Jewish religious answer to their question. Surely that reality of receiving the revelation in the cosmic medium of the star indicated to them, and even to Herod and his advisors, that the source of such “news” had to be God.

 So it was reasonable to assume that the answer would come from God as articulated through one of God's mouthpieces – a prophet. So the sacred texts were consulted and sure enough, God's intent had been made known to Micah long ago.

 Since God is not limited by time, it is without doubt that the sending of Jesus Christ into this world to save it was within God's eternal purpose for creation and for every person. How wondrous is the heart and mind of our God!!

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus.