Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.
Dear God, I don’t think I’ve ever noticed the part of the story where not only Herod was bothered by the news of Jesus’ birth, but everyone else in Jerusalem was also. I wonder how they would have felt if they had know how the next 33 years would unfold.
That’s one of my problems. I take what I see happening in my present and I allow myself to layer on top of it my incorrect suppositions about the future. It goes back to the lesson I am still learning from the 15th letter in C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, when Screwtape tells Wormwood, in essence, whatever you do keep your human preoccupied with the future. Whether he thinks it will be heaven on earth of hell on earth, make him think about that instead of thinking about the present because the present is the one point in time that interfaces with eternity and The Enemy (God).” In the case of this Bible story, Herod’s response was to see a threat and try to overcome prophecy. What are my responses.
Father, help me to handle each thing that comes across my life today well. Help me to handle it in the moment and not try to layer my own expectations on it. Help me to seek your presence and counsel as I work to do what is within your will to bring you glory and invite your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Emails to God 