Passage Read: Matthew 1-2
Meditation Verses: 2:1-2
Thought
These magi from the east are some of the only people to recognize what God had just done! And they were determined to go and honor the newborn king of the Jews. Were they surprised to find out that none of the leaders of Israel recognized what had happened? Did they realize what a chain of events their devotion would set off? In short order, all the babies in Bethlehem would be killed because they tipped off Herod to Jesus' birth. They obviously didn't realize Herod would hate the child, and they probably took him at his word that he desired to worship Him too. But when they were warned not to return to Herod, did a dread start to set in on them? Did they hear of the massacre that followed their visit? Did they feel guilt? Did they fear that the Child they worshiped might have been killed because of them?
Application
My devotion to Christ could lead others to suffer harm or death. Should I keep my devotion to myself then? Surely not! Not when Christ commissioned His followers to preach His Gospel to all nations! This life is not all there is and sinners are responsible for their own evil deeds. God is more than capable of protecting those He wants to protect, and if He permits the wicked to kill people who don't deserve to die, He knows what He's doing. I don't have to feel guilty when others take advantage of my devotion to Christ and harm those I teach or those unconnected people near them. I will have done a righteous thing, and those I connected with will hopefully be helped. Those bystanders who are caught up in the hostility of wicked men will receive from God what they deserve, whether mercy or judgment according to their own response to God. My service to God may get others killed, but that's not my fault, but the fault of the wicked who hate the righteous.