Hard Question

Have you been the outsider? Have you been the outsider who came in to point out the obvious that no one else saw? Have you been looked at as though you were out of your mind? Have you stood your ground and waited for them to acknowledge you anyway?

Some of us may have been an outsider whom no one on the inside gave any credit to. We may have pointed out something that made perfect sense and been looked at with eyebrows raised. Our thoughts may have been dismissed out of hand. We may have felt shunned.

That may be how the wise men felt in King Herod’s court. They came to ask a question. It was obvious King Herod didn’t know. In fact, he probably didn’t want to know. He also likely felt threatened by the question. After all, if there was a new king, he was on his way out. Little did he know Who the King was the wise men were asking about.

But take notice of the wise men’s action. They didn’t back down. They didn’t bow out. They waited for an answer to their question. King Herod had to summon the Jewish leadership so they could give the wise men the answer they needed. The wise men graciously accepted the answer and went on their way.

We might find a lesson in the actions of the wise men. Just because others may think we have lost our mind, if we know we are in the right, we need to stand our ground. Now, having said that, we need to be sure we are right. The wise men had heard at least some of the prophecies. We know some of the Bible. When we hear someone else make a misstatement, we should correct them with love and kindness. If we seek an answer from someone who is learned, we should wait for the answer—don’t give up but wait patiently. We may just find what we are looking for, just like the wise men.

I pray we all seek to know God’s Word. I pray we ask questions and wait for answers. I pray we stand our ground when we are sure we are right. Know God’s Word. Seek answers. Ask questions. Wait patiently. Stand your ground. Be sure of being right.

Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.”