Notice on a slight format change:

Except for July 2012, these are mostly a collection of current devotional notes.

July 2012 is a re-write of old quiet times. My second child was born Nov 11, 1987 with multiple birth defects. I've been re-reading my QT notes from that time in my life, and have included them here. They cover the time before the birth and the few years immediately after the birth. They are tagged "historical." I added new insights and labeled them: ((TODAY, dd mmm yy)).

Thursday, March 2, 2017

QT 2 Mar 17, Matt 2:1-3, "Jesus," the name that troubles the world

Matthew 2:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;


NOTE: "Troubled!" Not overjoyed, not curious, not in wonderment, but troubled--the leadership (as depicted by 'Jerusalem') is troubled. These are Jews, the ones who should be waiting for such a wondrous event, as Simon and Anna were (see Luke 2). Jesus puts certain people on edge. For true people of faith, Jesus is a joyous name and a great excitement. To the outwardly religious, the power-hungry, the atheist, the person who loves sin, the name of "Jesus" causes the grinding of teeth. It is hated, attacked, and mocked throughout most of the world today. The worldview of Babylon is "I did it my way and I do not need or want God." The world believes that they are their own god. Which is why it is so important for the world to tout that all religions are true. Because it does two things. One, it makes all religion not true since they contract each other at fundamental levels. Two, it allows man to do whatever he wants, even create a religion of self-worship. The philosophy that all religions are true is an atheist philosophy at its very roots. And Jesus, who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." is hated for his exclusive statements. His name sets people on edge, because it really is the name of the living God--Jesus.

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