Are you a Wise Man or are you Herod?

Matthew 2:1-12

It's hard to read this passage without humming the familiar carol "we three kings of Orient are" isn't it? But let's take a look at what happens here, and see with fresh eyes God's truth:
1.  The wise men are curious (v. 2)
2.  Herod is threatened by this upstart king (v. 3)
3.  The wise men find Jesus, and they are overjoyed (v. 10 - 11)
4.  The wise men thwart Herod's plan to kill Jesus and eliminate his threat to Herod's power (v. 12)

So what's the rest of the story?  We don't hear from the wise men the rest of the scripture. Were their lives changed? We have to trust God on that one, and to remember, that we don't know the rest of our own story either. But we do know that God came to earth as a baby, and that when you meet him, you are changed forever.

Hold on a minute.... what about Herod and the Jewish power structure?  They, too, knew that a great star had appeared in the heavens, signaling the Lord's birth. They knew the scriptures that foretold where the savior would be born (v. 6). But they didn't go. They didn't seek out Jesus. They didn't worship him. They had a choice, and they chose to ignore the Christ.

We, too, have that choice. It's a new year, time for new beginnings. Have you made the choice to follow Jesus? You can do it right now - ask him into your life, and he will gladly meet you.

Most of us reading this have already invited Jesus into our life. But now is a good time to worship him anew - to thank him for what he has already done for you and what he will do. Give him the glory!  Amen.