King of the...

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,  "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Matthew 2:1-3





It's easy to think Herod would be disturbed by Jesus' arrival. An evil tyrant doesn't want anyone to usurp his power. Rumors of a Messiah's impending takeover were NOT good news to Herod. He had it good as the king--way better than most of the other poor Jewish people under Roman oppression. Of course he wouldn't want another King in town. But wait...what's the rest say?

"And all Jerusalem with him."

When I read that yesterday morning, I stopped mid-text and read it again, parsing every letter. All of Jerusalem? They weren't anticipating their Rescuer? The promised redeemer?

A few days before Christmas, I was listening to a Christian radio talk-show host interview an atheist. He was trying to explain why he actively sought to remove Nativity scenes from the public square at Christmas. The host (whose name I didn't catch because I tuned in mid-interview) became so exasperated that she finally blurted, "What is so threatening about a little baby in a manger?"

"It's a tiny infant," she continued. "A baby placed in a trough where animals drink, for crying out loud!" (My paraphrase.)

But maybe that atheist understands the impact far more than the radio host or most other Christians do. That little baby in the manger rocks our world when He enters it.

Or, He should.

Not to sound ungrateful for all the amazing ways God has helped me grow, but I might be able to relate to Herod a little more than I first thought. True, I have been transformed by an amazing God who adores me as I am AND loves me too much to let me stay that way. But there are areas in my heart still ruled by a tyrant. A tyrant that doesn't want to let Jesus in.

Faults easily explained away by the world but conscience-pricking for a mature Christian aren't easily identified from the outside. Motives, thoughts, and priorities can even look great on the outside. But like many of you, I've still got my *stuff*.

My prayer is that in 2012, I'll continue to be transformed. Through Bible study and prayer, fellowship with believers and the power of the Holy Spirit, I'll be a much more Christ-like person in 2013.