PRIME TROUBLE
Matthew 2:1-18

King David stated in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” Wickedness is rooted in pride. Pride is the prime avenue where every evil vehicle passes through to execute its evil agenda. Why would King Herod want to terminate a new born King? Pride was his prime problem. Where there is pride there is hate, deception, bitterness and anger. Right after the birth of Jesus, King Herod deceptively wanted to get hold of the newly born King when he said to the wise men, “…Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” (Matthew 2:8) God at work knew about king Herod’s deception. The wise men, being wise in listening to and obeying the word of God responded to God’s direction, “Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.” (Matthew 2:12) Every attempt of King Herod was driven by pride. God at work made available a route of escape and deliverance that lead Joseph, Mary and the new born King to Egypt. Herod became angrily aggressive in his attempt to deny the new born King of kings. King Herod’s arrogant intention exploded and the anger that was rooted in his pride became evident, “Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.”  (Matthew 2:16) God is still in the business of answering prayer, it is never too late to rise up after a fall. However, not to rise but to remain fallen is permanently destructive. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is good to remember the reason for His coming. The Son of God, King of kings did not come for religion; His coming was not to introduce a commercial holiday. Jesus’ coming was to give life and this life is not obtainable until there is confession and repentance of sin. The angel that visited Mary declared the purpose of Jesus’ coming when he stated, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) In this season of celebrating His birth, relegate your pride to celebrate the present from God. Jesus is the present from God to deliver us from sin.
 
Prayer for today: My Father and my God deliver me from all of my anxieties, flush out every wickedness in me, let me not miss out in the way of everlasting.