and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”
Matthew 27:63-64, ESV
We like to think we can outsmart God, even when we know the truth, but God is beyond our ways and understanding.
His plans cannot be stopped. It’s better to join Him.
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
Matthew 2:7-8, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
But God was not willing to leave us mired in our sin.
God came to us, born as an infant, weak, physically powerless, yet without sin.
And the first sign given was a star.
Most people miss that our Lord has come to be with us as one of us, and they miss obvious signs, often relying on the truth of the biblical worldview to find truth. But that does not mean they follow the facts to the proper response.
We often still ignore Jesus for our own desires.
Herod is the epitome of pursuing desires over the clear leading of the Lord, showing that we can be willing to lie to continue looking good to others.
We pretend to worship when we hate what the truth is.
Yet, God came to us, showing us that even in our ignorant hatred He comes loving us.
We may make excuses or lie or look in the wrong places, but we should seek the Lord and be willing to give up our desires.
May we seek the Lord who loves us even in our sin.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
a simple man of God 