After Jesus had been born, wise men…came to Jerusalem and asked, “where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the West.”
…So Herod directed the Magi to speak with the teachers of the law about the birth of the Messiah. The scribes were so excited as they, like many, had been expecting his birth for some time due to the many prophecies. They immediately agreed to accompany the Magi to Bethlehem to be amongst the first to see the long-awaited King who would restore Israel’s fortunes.
Not the Bible: The Ungospel of Matthew 2:1-8
Perhaps you never noticed this before. The scribes knew where the Messiah was to be born but they didn’t do anything about it. To them it was knowledge not action.
Surely they had been waiting all these years. They had seen the two prophecies in Daniel fulfilled. Everyone was waiting for the Messiah. Even Roman historians noted this expectation amongst the Jewish people.
Why didn’t they go to see? Why didn’t they accompany the wise men? Why did they stay behind?
Before we are quick to judge, let’s turn it around: Would we have gone? Would we have travelled 6 miles by foot there and 6 miles back to see? Or would we have let others go, stayed in our comfort zones and missed something amazing?
I was listening to the testimony of John and Carol Arnott where they talked about what they were doing before the Toronto blessing. I was struck that when they heard of God doing something they travelled across America to see for themselves. When they thought God was asking them to do something they travelled across country to do it.
It was this simple hunger and obedience that was the preparation for the anointing that followed.
I am guilty of staying put. I’ve justified it with “it’s not practical” or “we don’t need to go there, God can meet us here” or “revival starts with us”. Whilst these might have been true – they were smokescreens for staying in my comfort zone or for judging others who chased after signs or for me being, at my core, frightened.
Ultimately, revival won’t start with me if I’m not hungry for it, if I’m not prepared to step out and seek Him as the only One who can truly satisfy.
Father, forgive me for holding back and missing out on all that you have for me. Forgive me for judging others who seem to just be running around to get experiences and then not doing anything with them. Make me more hungry for you, let everything else I seek to satisfy me taste of ashes. May I seek you – the bread of life, the living water, all that my desires have really been longing for.
John,
Thanks for your humility, honesty, and transparency! So much easier to learn from those who represent the Father’s heart. I’m “guilty” too. 😉 Confession is good for the soul, right? I love that you put a prayer of repentance to give a launching place to search our own hearts. Blessings!
Bless you for your encouragement Elaine. I am so blessed to know you. Yes, I am moving more and more to transparency in my blogging and heart cries to God and then giving people a starting point for responding to the Father. But it’s so good to know that it is a blessing.
Good way to look at that. Makes one think.
I’m so pleased you found it helpful.