Key Passage
Then Herod had a secret meeting with the wise men from the east. Herod learned from the wise men the exact time they first saw the star. Then Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem. Herod said to the wise men, "Go and look carefully to find the new baby. When you find the baby, come tell me. Then I can go worship him too." The wise men heard the king and then left. They saw the same star they had seen in the east. The wise men followed the star. The star went before them until it stopped above the place where the baby was. The wise men were happy to see the star. They were very excited.
— Matthew 2:7-10 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Herod is that great reminder of Satan's design for us: he is a liar and murderer, and has been since the beginning! (See John 8:44.) Under the pretense of worship, Herod seeks to eliminate God's choice for the throne Herod thinks he himself occupies. Satan had so blinded Herod that he would even use the truth of prophetic Scripture to kill God's chosen Messiah. Thwarted only because of God's timing and will, Herod anticipates Judas, who will betray the Lord for another type of personal gain. A question we need to ask is this: "How many times have I betrayed him for nothing?"
Prayer
Holy and Righteous Father, in the power of Jesus' name, please drive the influence of Satan's deceptions from my mind and heart. Give me the ability to see your truth and be protected from Satan's schemes to destroy me, my faith, and those I love. In Jesus' powerful name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
Those people will be afraid of the Lord! Why? Because the Lord will destroy their gods. Then all the people in all the faraway lands will worship the Lord.
— Zephaniah 2:11
These living things give glory and honor and thanks to the One who sits on the throne. He is the One who lives forever and ever. And every time the living things do this, the 24 elders bow down before the One who sits on the throne. The elders worship him who lives forever and ever. The elders put their crowns down before the throne and say: "Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power. You made all things. Everything existed and was made because you wanted it."
— Revelation 4:9-11
The Jews said to Gallio, "This man is teaching people to worship God in a way that is against our {Jewish} law!" Paul was ready to say something, but Gallio spoke to the Jews. Gallio said, "I would listen to you Jews if you were complaining about a bad crime or some wrong. But the things you Jews are saying are only questions about words and names—arguments about your own {Jewish} law. So you must solve this problem yourselves. I don't want to be a judge of these things!" Then Gallio made them leave the court. Then they all grabbed Sosthenes. (Sosthenes was {now} the leader of the synagogue. ) They beat Sosthenes before the court. But this did not bother Gallio. Paul stayed with the brothers (believers) for many days. Then he left and sailed for Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were also with him. At Cenchrea, Paul cut off his hair. {This showed that} he had made a promise (vow) to God. Then they went to the city of Ephesus. This is where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. While Paul was in Ephesus, he went into the synagogue and talked with the Jews. The Jews asked Paul to stay longer, but he refused.
— Acts 18:13-20
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