King Herod Didn’t Make It – Will You?

You can guarantee that there will have been one important figure missing from the countless ‘nativity scenes’ around the world at Christmas time – King Herod. This isn’t really surprising; even though he said he also wanted to ‘go and worship’ along with the shepherds, wise men and sundry traditional animals, he didn’t make it to the stable, thank God.

Herod’s desire to ‘go and worship’ was a lie. All he wanted was to remain in power, and this new king was a threat. He wanted to have Jesus killed, and when he couldn’t find him, he took murderous revenge throughout the whole country.

We rightly deplore Herod’s motives and actions, but as we also ‘go and worship’, what motive is really in our heart? Do we want to give glory, praise and honour to our King for His sake, or is it actually for our sake? If we worship Jesus, do we want Him in return to solve our problems, heal us, and ‘make our life better’? Or do we just want to give Him whatever we can? If you were a figure in a nativity scene, what gift would you be bringing?

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb.
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can, I give him – give my heart.
(Christina Rossetti, c. 1872)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, just like You, I came into this world with nothing but my own life. You gave Your life for me, and all that I can give You is my life. Please accept my heart, my very life. It’s Yours now. Amen.