Stress Test Devotional May 4
May 04, 2024
Matthew 2:3-4 | 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
Matthew 2:7-8 | 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 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."
The wise men act under the influence of grace in their attitude toward Herod. They wisely suspect his motives and the genuineness of his desire to worship the new king. Herod was upset by the wise men’s search, seeing a new king as a rival and threat. His desire to honor the royal child was deceitful, a lie to gain the confidence of the Magi so he could use them as unwitting agents to locate the
baby. Once located he could be eliminated.
When we act under the influence of grace we act graciously but not naively. God’s grace in our lives should make us more, not less, aware of evil and malicious actors like Herod.
How sensitive are you to evil intent?
