Third Focus

Our third focus is that when King Herod thought in his mind to kill the growing child, wherever He was, God was steps ahead of him. We are taken further to receive more wonderful truths about our Heavenly Father, for His is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory for all time. Having been shown God’s Heavenly controlling Hand in Herod’s earthly rule, in the Birth and Growth of King Jesus, God’s only Begotten Son, where has the Holy Spirit taken us? He has taken us to note the Worth of His helpless, little Child, Jesus, Saviour and King. The entire showing of God as LORD, Supreme, Sovereign and Superior, is in the weakness, dependence and utter helplessness of the Child.

Note clearly that Herod is doing all kinds of mischief, because of a little Child, who can do him no bodily, physical harm. Just think of what is happening. The news of another king in his kingdom, is not of a great warrior king who is all armed and ready to do battle. Herod is not fighting a man like himself, on his level – age, skill, power and might – for Jesus is but a little Child. Why then is Herod so perturbed, so afraid?

We are made aware of this fact. Herod saw, knew and believed in the Worth of the One who was born King of the Jews. Herod believed in the uncompromising Worth – the Power, Authority and Glory - of Jesus. He had to, otherwise he would not have become so obsessed and possessed, by the One born King, living in his midst. He would never see Him as his rival. Is it not precisely because Herod saw the unmistakable Worth of Jesus as King, even though Jesus was but a weak, helpless Child, he had to try to snuff out Jesus’ life?  King Herod’s bent was to kill the growing Child, Jesus. Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him. Matthew 2: 13b.

Never be fooled about this fact. Evil knows good better than you do. Do not be conned by the deceiver into thinking otherwise. The evil one and all his acolytes, believe in the Word made flesh among us. The devil knows the worth of God’s Word and even when that Word is now beginning to grow in us, he will try to kill it, by making us doubt, what he knows to be true.

Herod believed, and saw worth in the Name and Nature of the, One born King of the Jews. Check this! Herod believed like the shepherds and the wise men believed. He never doubted what he was told, just as they too never doubted or turned away from what they were told. He never heard of Jesus’ Birth, His flesh Birth and passed it off as something foolish, something not to be bothered about. No! Herod, I tell you, just like the wise men and the shepherds, took it to heart and acted upon the Good News of Great Joy, with haste. 

Here is a stern and most serious truth. The fact is that in this day and time, and even perhaps more so, when subtleties of deception are becoming more and more obscure and less and less recognizable, we need God the Holy Spirit, to expose all truth to us, as was done to the wise men. We can believe, but it is our responses to belief that manifests whose we are. Belief in the worth of the Living Word will compel some to seek and want its life, while for others it’s the opposite. Belief in the worth of the Living Word will propel some to seek and want its death.

In the midst of all of this, don’t you see the Superior working of Almighty God? God does not just know the Worth of His Son, whom He has given flesh Birth, but He keeps, honours, upholds, respects and glorifies His Worth here on the earth. God shows this, when He ensures that evil, which must have its day, does not touch His Son’s life, while in His most vulnerable Child state. Indeed, evil must have its day and work, as Jesus clearly stated, when He schooled His disciples with teachings, which told them that they ought not to be anxious about tomorrow. These were His instructive Words to them. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6: 34b. Be not ever deceived about it. Evil has its day. The encouraging and calmingly wonderful news is that Father God is still in control and will deliver us from all evil.

What about you and me? Our hearts are evil and we are evil, given over to sin, as the self in us gives way to the rule of the enemy, the evil Satan. However, God has planted the seed of His Word in us and He alone can give it growth. Additionally, He alone has given it worth, so that He will ensure that no enemy will make His Living Word, as that of inferior, transient, and dispensable worth. The Living Word in you will not be dumbed down.

Statement: Just as King Herod, the evil one, was made to know the true, Sovereign Worth of that Child King, in his place of rule, so too with God's Living Word. His Word made flesh, is given worth in sinful lives, minds and hearts that are slaves to sin, servants who faithfully and dutifully bend and bow to sin, our master. As long as sin is alive and well, sin will always have its day and way in us. Here is the Good News of Great Joy. Worth will be given in such a life, for God is LORD, Superior Master of all masters, including sin.

Let us strongly continue  in the sure hope and assurance of the Good News of Great Joy that is to you, me and all who will so accept it and live it, in a world of growing evil.  

The Good News of Great Joy is that Herod was ignorant of Jesus’ Birth, because our God and Heavenly Father is Sovereign. His Word made flesh will be given Birth, wherever He pleases and however He pleases.

The Good News of Great Joy is that Herod was only given knowledge of Jesus’ Growth, that He was living in his place of rule, because our God and Heavenly Father is Supreme. His Word made flesh will be given Growth, wherever He wills and however He wills.

The Good News of Great Joy is that Herod saw Jesus’ Worth. Although it scared him and he saw Jesus as his rival, which made him deadly in his responses, he was powerless to snuff out that Life. God’s Word, made flesh, is given Worth, in whomsoever and whatsoever, regardless of their responses.

For the next two days, we shall be focusing on covenant keeping disciples of Jesus.