Shutdown seems to be a word that we’ve all heard many times this year. Governing bodies have wrestled all year in ways to implement shutdowns in a way to slow the spread something unwanted in our community. Did you know that over 2000 years ago a governing body also tried to shutdown something they did not want in their community? That’s right! Matthew 2 reminds us that King Herod, the ruler of Judea at that time, sent out a decree to “kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under”. This was Herod’s attempt to stop Jesus the Messiah and future King of the Jews.
King Herod was the ruler of Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth. As you could imagine, the birth of the prophesized new King would bring a threat to his reign. Upon receiving news about the birth of the Messiah, Herod gathered a group of priests and scholars to help determine where this child was born. They determined Bethlehem must be where they could find Him based on prophesies. Herod sent out some wise men to find the baby and report back where He was found so that Herod himself could go worship Him. The wise men set out and, guided by a bright star, found Jesus with Mary. They presented Jesus with gifts and began their journey home. God guided the wise men home by a new route so that they would avoid Herod. This angered the king and he sent out a decree to kill all boys in Bethlehem and its surrounding area who were two years and under. News traveled slower in those days and Herod had to be sure this new King did not survive and threat his reign. God protected Jesus by having Joseph take him to Egypt until Herod’s rule was over. This was King Herod’s attempt to shutdown Jesus, and it did not work! Nobody can shutdown God!
Our God is powerful! He can’t be shut down! Herod tried to stop God’s plan by killing Jesus. It did not work. The Romans crucified Jesus in attempt to stop His message from spreading! It did not work. Satan tried to defeat Jesus. It did not work. There just is no stopping God. He’s at work in your lives every day as well. We cannot run and hide from Him (just ask the Israelite Jonah). We cannot ignore his Holy Spirit nudging us. Every Bible could be burnt and yet His words would carry on forever. We can be asked to stay home, but God can’t be confined to a home. We can be asked to be silent about Jesus, but you cannot silence God. We can try changing late December celebrations to “Winter” holidays or breaks, but it doesn’t change the fact that Jesus was born on Christmas Day for you and me. God cannot be shut down…period!
During this time of advent and through the rest of this year, I want us each to remember that our loving God can’t be shut down. He’s proven time and time again His faithfulness. Jesus was born, lived, and died for us. It is also written that Jesus will return. Nothing will stop that. Go out this season sharing tidings of comfort and joy for all to hear. Our God is real, our God is here, and our God can never be shut down! Have a blessed day and help me make sure that NO MAN IS LEFT BEHIND!
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