Is there a Herod in your life?

New Year's resolution. But it's not even Christmas yet and you're talking about New Year's resolutions.

YES!
 
Those wise men in Matthew 2 had to make preparation, organize their caravan, and travel to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. From preparation to finish, it took wisdom, preparation, and planning. It also probably took prayer on behalf of those wise men. Prayer in seeking what they wanted to find.
 
Our homes need wisdom. Our churches desperately need wisdom and discernment from God. Those wise men were wise Gentiles who sought Jesus and worshiped Jesus. But the Jews, only a few miles away, did not go to worship the Son of God. Those Jewish priests, they knew the Scripture and the prophecy, yet they did not go to worship the King.
 
Micah 5:2 and Hosea 11:1 are prophecies fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, the places and events. Only Jesus Christ could have perfectly fulfilled prophecy. No scholar, no scientist, no seeker of the truth can reject Jesus without intentionally twisting and perverting the evidence.
 
The wise men were men of wealth and power. They were scholars and scientists, and they troubled Herod and Jerusalem.

Herod - The lying, lust-filled, murder (who had his own wife and his two brothers slain because he suspected them of treason) – this Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Satan wanted to kill Jesus. Let's connect the dots to this insanity today. It's the devil. It's wickedness. It's perversion. The wise men were warned of God not to report back to Herod.

And when they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. (Matthew 2:13)

Prophecy fulfilled.

The biblical record of Christ's birth has so many elements that are applicable to us today that prove our need of the Saviour.

Who is your Herod? Each of us have challenges, trials, troubles, and problems that seemingly are overwhelming at times.

I think of a friend with cancer, and it's really bad. I think of those where natural disaster has occurred and they do not have adequate housing. I think of those with seemingly impossible debt. I think of others with such immense medical expenses, caught by their insurance company who now refuses coverage and denies the patient needed treatment, jeopardizing their life.
 
Maybe you're facing a Herod, a Goliath, an overwhelming giant of problems in your life. Maybe someone or something in your life that has lied to you, aims to crush you, or wants to destroy you.
 
This is the emotional battle, the physical battle, the financial battle, and yes, the spiritual battle that we face -

the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

This story, the story of the coming of Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, is a story of salvation, a story of victory to those who will believe in Jesus.

Wise people still come to Jesus. They make a commitment to Jesus.

Would we ask and seek wisdom? It takes planning, preparation, and prayer.
 
Make that resolution.