Bible Reading: Matthew 2:4-6
Yesterday, we started talking about reactions to God. We said that people could love God, hate God, or be indifferent or apathetic toward God. We learned that God hates indifference toward Him and, while He endures people hating Him, His true desire is for us to love Him passionately.
In today’s Bible reading, Matthew 2:4-6, we read about some people who were indifferent. The priests and teachers of the law mentioned in today’s Bible reading knew about God. They knew the scriptures that promised that God would send a Messiah so well that, when Herod asked where the Messiah would be born, they replied, “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel’” (Matthew 2:6 which is a quote from Micah 5:2).
Sadly, in spite of all that knowledge, they didn’t bother to go look for the Messiah themselves. They weren’t interested in finding out for themselves if the Messiah had been born. They didn’t want to be bothered to interrupt their lives to search for the truth by going to Bethlehem to see if they baby that had been born there was, in fact, the promised Messiah.
God doesn’t want us to be indifferent, like those priests and teachers. He wants us to be passionate about God, our relationship with Him, and the things that He says are important. Our passion in these things pleases God while He will punish those people who are indifferent or complacent about Him.
I hope you will follow Paul’s instruction in Romans 12:11 which says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
“At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’” Zephaniah 1:12
Prayer: Heavenly Father, stir my heart. Make me zealous for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.