The Messiah Foretold....But Overlooked

"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 in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he 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 least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" Matthew 2:1-6

Even though Christmas is over my thoughts still have been lingering on the circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth. In our Sunday School class this past week we were talking about the Wise Men who came to see Jesus. They first visited King Herod and relayed the reason for their journey.

I found it interesting that King Herod checked with the religious leaders of his day and they confirmed the fact that the Messiah was foretold to be born in Bethlehem. But still they didn't go to check it out for themselves. Even after Simeon, Anna and the shepherds declared what had happened, Jesus' birth was overlooked. I can't imagine hearing of this wondrous event and not going to witness it.

And yet....how many times throughout our day to we have opportunity to see God sightings - glimpses of how He is working in our lives, but we choose to overlook it or be too consumed by our circumstances. Won't you make a conscious decision for 2009 to not overlook our Lord?