Don't Let Your Religion Get In The Way

There is a fascinating picture in the Christmas story that has always puzzled me.  In fact, it scares me and troubles me.  The Magi travel a long distance to seek out this newly born King of the Jews.  As they arrive in the territory of Judea, they went to the logical place to find a new king.  They go to the palace.  They assumed the current king's family just had a baby.  Little did they know they were talking to the disturbed maniac who would eventually try to assassinate the new king.  But that is another story.

The disturbing part to me is that when the Magi inquire as to the whereabouts of the new King, Herod calls for the religious leaders. Here is the account from Matthew 2:

4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”

These were the people's religious leaders and they knew immediately the answer to the question.  But they were missing the birth of their Messiah.  They were too busy being religious that they missed God.  These same people would later plot against Jesus to try and kill Him because He threatened their position of religious importance and influence.

Is it possible today that there are many people who deem themselves "religious" but are missing God?  That is what scares me.  I know it to be true.  It is possible to be very involved in a religious system and yet miss the very One you supposedly are looking for.

The good new today is that as you read through the Gospels there were a number of people among the religious leaders who truly heard Jesus and followed Him.  We don't have to remain blinded by our own religious importance.

Do you consider yourself religious or one who is seeking Him who has been born King of the Jews (and Gentiles)?