Grace For Your Day 12 24 11

Jeremiah 31:15 …A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.

It never fails. The enemy of God will always attack with a vengeance when he is threatened by what God is up to. This was definitely the case at the birth of Christ. The birth of Jesus was promised all the way back in Genesis 3:15, and when the star was seen by the wise men, it was a sign that this most important prophecy was now being fulfilled! The wise men told Herod the reason for their journey, and while he pretended to be excited about the news, he was actually threatened by the prospect of a promised king coming on the scene. Herod then gave the orders that also fulfilled the prophecy found in our passage today from the book of Jeremiah. He ordered that every male child under two years of age be killed, and they were. During the same time that Mary was looking into the eyes of her Son that was conceived by the Holy Spirit, there were many mothers grieving the loss of their precious child. How can knowing this help us? For one thing, we should never be surprised when we are faced with our biggest struggles in the face of our greatest blessings. Discouragement is the Devil’s middle name if you ask me, and he is really good at it. What blessings has God poured into your life that the devil has tried to overshadow with discouragement or personal attacks? Just remember, in the end, he can’t win. That little toddler named Jesus grew up to die for you and me. Amen.