January 25

TO WHOM ARE YOU LOOKING?

Father, thank You for bringing me to this place and this time today. I ask You to speak to me right now, and to let Your Word breathe life into my heart. Please use these next few moments to bring me to more of a fullness of You and to learn more of Your Glory and how to leave the footprints of Jesus everywhere I go today. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen!

Read Matthew 2:1-6

As I keep reading through these 6 verses, my mind continually goes to the phrase “the people’s chief priest and teachers of the law.” Since my mind was being drawn over and over to these words, I decided I should do some research and check out what this really means. The people’s chief priests, was a reference to the Sadducees. This group was known for being very worldly and politically minded, and for having an extremely unorthodox theology. They did not believe in things such as the resurrection, angels, or spirits. The teachers of the law, were the Jewish scholars of the day, they were professionally trained in all aspects of the law (at the time would have been the Old Testament Law). Their authority was based solely on human and traditional factors. So, it appears that Herod went to some pretty worldly sources to learn about God. I think there is something very important in this for us to learn.

History tells us that Herod the Great was driven to find the Christ by motives that were entirely self-seeking and impure. He was not interested in seeking God for right reasons. So it makes perfect sense that he went to people that formed their views on worldly and political basis. He was not interested in who the Messiah really was, just wanted to know where He was, so he could contain the perceived threat.

A few days ago, I was on the phone with my best friend, and we were discussing a certain situation in my life. He told me he was upset with me for responding a certain way. It was not that comforting for him to tell me I was wrong. He was right in his assessment of my actions, and I later thanked him for pointing out my mistake. It would have been very easy to just listen to those that would tell me I was acting correctly. That would not help me grow as a person though. The same principle holds true in our growth in Christ.

Why do you and I seek God? Are we seeking Him for who He really is, or is it because of secular and self-serving reasons? Do the answers to these two questions influence who we listen to, and whose opinions we value? It is very easy to listen to those that agree with us, or tell us what we want to hear. It is also easy to look for various scripture which when taken out of context will back our stance. Is this responsible though? Moreover does it lend to us leaving His footprints?

Today I encourage you to listen to those who have God’s interest in mind, and to seek Him for Him. That way you can be sure the footprints you leave are not your own.

Leave His footprints as you walk today!