Stress Test Devotional May 4
May 04, 2024
MATTHEW 2: 3-8 | When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
MATTHEW 2:12 | And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Openness is not the same thing as gullibility. The person who is willing to learn must also be careful not to be deceived. Wisdom seeks others’ expertise, but is never naïve concerning their motivations. The wise men do get help from the court of Herod, but they do not believe that this King, who was infamous for his murderous brutality, really wanted to worship the arriving Messiah. The indication of his falseness, was secrecy. (Herod’s desire to murder the Messiah would have been scandalous to any Jew in his territory.) The wise men do not fulfill their commission and go home by an alternative route, avoiding Herod completely.
Wise Christians evaluate motivations and are not used by others for secret purposes.
Are you trusting or cynical or careful in dealing with advice and requests?
Have you ever been unintentionally used?
