Advent Devotion for December 3rd, the 7th day of Advent

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

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:7-8

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I may go and worship him.”

Devotional: It is interesting that the first concern of Herod was the “exact time” this star revealing the birth of the King of the Jews had appeared. Then he asked that they, the Magi, should report the child's location so that he might also worship Him.

 We know, of course, that Herod never intended to worship this child, rather his intent was to kill Him. Since the Magi did not return and report to Herod, he had all the male children, two years of age or less, slain. The Slaughter of the Innocents!

Herod either believed the Magi and his own religious leaders, or he was cautious to do away with any child born near the time of the appearance of the Star.

It is no exaggeration to look at the world and its systems of power structure and realize that deceit and lies are universally prevalent. We pray for the wisdom of Almighty God to be able to discern between truth and falsehood. At the same time, we realize that such discernment was enfleshed in this very child about whom Herod, the deceiver, inquired. He revealed this when He said to us, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Those in whom Christ dwells and who dwell in Christ have the best chance in this life of discerning Truth and acting thereupon.

 If Christ is the Truth, then evil is the lie, the deceiver. Jesus says in John 8:44, “He (the devil) was a murderer from  the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

 Advent can be a time to look at one's life and if there is deception or lie, to reject it in the name of Jesus Christ and cling to the truth.

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus.