Shine!

Daily Reading: Matthew 2

Scripture Focus: Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. (Matthew 2.13)

Devotional Thought: After hearing about Jesus from the Wise Men, Herod set about to destroy the Baby Savior. Was this a potential "downside" to the Wise Men's best-intentioned efforts at worship?

Have you ever thought about how our best-intentioned efforts, could actually do damage to the cause of Christ? How can we destroy the impact of the Child Jesus?

We destroy / damage the effort of Jesus when we try to...

· Combine his message with other ways of salvation. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. When we try to combine the Kingdom of God with other kingdoms, with other ways, then neither kingdom will stand.

· Enshrine him in a museum. Jesus didn't intend his message to be encased. He wants it to be lived and proclaimed! He is alive!

· Design him in our image. When we make Jesus to be like us, or like what we want him to be, he is weakened and rendered powerless. The people in Nazareth defined him down to their level, and he couldn't do many miracles there.

· Confine him to certain areas of our lives. Jesus doesn't take up part residence. If we don't deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him, then we are putting up a "Do Not Enter" sign in front of him.

· Refine him to meet society's expectations. Jesus doesn't meet culture's demands for tolerance and inclusivity. Jesus has a stern message. He said that the way is narrow and few will find it.

Let's not make these mistakes! Instead, let's come in line with the Kingdom and set Jesus free to be Lord in our lives!

Prayer: Father, help me to align myself with your Son, for he is Lord of all. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 87.1-7

On the holy mount stands the city he founded; 2 the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah

4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush— “This one was born there,” they say. 5 And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her. 6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah

7 Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.”