Devotion 12/13, Shepherd of My Heart

When King Herod had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'”
Matthew 2:4-6

Herod was like most kings of his time. He couldn’t stand the thought of anyone receiving admiration or a following. He was drunk on power and attention.
But, unlike the Maji from Persia that would see signs of Christ’s coming, study the writings of previous maji and believed and took it to heart, the Jewish priests were missing the prophecies of God.
The Jewish priests, scribes, and teachers, of all people, should not have missed that Jesus was their promised Messiah! The Old Testament told of His coming to earth, and they, as teachers of the OT should have recognized Christ right away. But as it says in John 1:11, “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” Which turned out to be a good thing for we Gentiles! Because as verse 12 of John 1 goes on to say, “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God”.

It is so amazing how blind we can be to that which is so obvious.
So it is our responsibility as children of God to stay focused on Him. Satan distracts us way to easily in getting focused or distracted by the ways of this world. And for me, everytime my focus is on anything other than Christ, anger, envy, bitterness, selfishness, greed, etc. all creep into my heart. All counter to a Christ like life I seek.

There are just a few simple but powerful reminders I can use, from God, that I use to refocus:
God’s Word says repeatedly that salvation is obtained through faith and belief in Jesus Christ and His blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
John 5:24 Jesus says,
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

Thank You Father God for making Your Word so very clear on how our sins are forgiven. Thank You for sending Jesus to pay my sin debt so that I can spend eternity in heaven with You. I love You so Abba and give You big praise this day, Amen!

Lord, everytime I wander from your ways, lose focus on your great commission, you shephard me back into your fold. You remind me of your love for me and all the blessings you have showered over me. I ask for your continued security and comfort through your Word and in my prayers that I heart stays focused on you through your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.