Daily Devotions – Follow the Cross

Daily Devotions – Follow the Cross

Photo by Daniele Franchi on Unsplash

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Matthew 2:1-12  (NIV)
The Magi Visit the Messiah
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

 

Have you ever had to leave anything to follow Jesus like the Magi did?

 

I make choices every day. What to wear and eat, or where I spend my time and finances. In today’s society, there are many distractions and voices that try to capture my attention and redirect the choices I make. Lord, I only want to follow Your voice. Help me to turn my back on popular trends that deviate from You and Your Word. Let me turn away from activities and people that sneer at Your Word, that openly promote sin and try to keep others from knowing You, Let me turn away from TV, social media, and articles that promote the devil’s work. Help me to spend my time and finances in ways that support what is consistent with Your Will. Open my eyes and heart to make me aware of unethical and immoral intentions, that can be hidden, so I am not caught in their trap. Let me follow Jesus even if it is unpopular, uncomfortable, unsafe, and unaccepted. Earthly wealth, popularity, power, and influence are temporary and only lead to destruction. You are the only way, truth, and life. The Wisemen had a star to follow, but I have the cross. Let me follow the narrow path toward Your cross that leads to the golden gates of Heaven. Amen