Apathy

 1/4/25

When [Herod] had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” —Matthew 2:4-6 

There is a difference between knowing something and believing it. And that difference is life and death. If anyone should have been in Bethlehem in those early days and weeks of Jesus’ earthly life, it should have been the scribes and priests. They not only had the Scriptures, they knew the prophecies by heart. So why weren’t they curious enough to look for the Child themselves? Apparently, even after Herod inquired, they couldn’t be bothered to go and see for themselves.

If you’ve grown up in church, you are familiar with the stories. But familiarity is not the same as faith. The danger we face is getting so accustomed to the stories that we aren’t even curious about what God is doing. Don’t let these stories lull you into inactivity and unbelief. If you aren’t interested enough to actively seek out the Christ, your faith is words alone, and unable to save you from your sins or give you hope when you have to walk in the darkness.