The Christmas Story includes a tale of two heart conditions. The Gospel of Matthew chapter two tells us of wise men from the
east who were seeking to find Him who was born King of the Jews. They followed
the light of His star which led them to Bethlehem, where they presented gifts
to this King, and then fell down and worshiped Him.
This same
chapter from the Bible tells us of another man, King Herod. When he heard the
announcement of this King's birth, he acted like he wanted to worship Him, but
instead he wanted to kill Him. Why did he want to kill this baby? Because Herod
thought this baby's birth could somehow interrupt his reign as king. He gave
the order to have every male child in this district two years old or younger to
be killed.
Here we find
examples of two heart conditions. Heart condition one: “Wise men,” who when
they heard of the coming Messiah,
sought Him out, found Him and worshiped. Heart condition two: “Herod,” who upon
hearing of this King, rejected Him, and sought to neutralize any effect Jesus
might have on his life. Instead of
submitting to this King's authority, he thought only of preserving his own
reign.
So today, we
tell the Christmas Story of a babe born in Bethlehem, born for one reason, to
pay the debt for our sins on a cross 33 years later. Do we give Him the glory
He deserves as King and Lord, or do we seek to preserve our life and let
nothing interrupt our reign? Jesus said, “Whoever desires to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
My prayer this
Christmas is that all may find the peace and forgiveness found only in Jesus, by responding with the heart of the wise men.
