Daily Reading: Matthew 14
Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. (Matthew 14.8-9)
Devotional Thought: John the Baptist had spoken out against the sin of Herod “stealing” his brother Philip’s wife. That had earned him the ire of Herod and had landed him in prison. But, Herod’s ire was mild compared to the scheming and hateful Herodias. She connived with her daughter – offering her up for a seductive (even pornographic) dance before Herod and a roomful of strangers – to gain the beheading of John. Herod’s response so conveniently fit Herodias’ plan that it makes me think she had used her daughter in such ways before and had heard Herod make similar offers to the one he made on that fateful day: “Ask me for anything you want. You can have it!”
Herod was trapped! Taken off-guard by her request for John’s head on a platter, he had to give it to her "because of his oaths and his guests." Sin is like that. It will lead us along, further and further into its sticky web until by our own words and pride we are hopelessly trapped! There is only one way of escape: death! For Herod that meant the death of John the Baptist. He was not freed from his oath until he delivered John’s head. Yet after this cruel act, he was still bound by sin’s sinister grip. But there is good news for you and me today. The way of escape from sin is death, and Jesus died to deliver us from sin’s deadly grasp!
Pay attention to the path you travel today. Do not even begin to follow the way of sin. That will only trap you in death. Instead follow Jesus Christ who died and rose again to give you life!
Prayer: O Lord, give me eyes to see the reality of sin's destructive power. Though it may offer fleeting pleasures, its end is death. Preserve me, O Lord, in the midst of temptation. Deliver me from evil! Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 89:5-13
5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,
7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?
8 O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?
9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.
12 The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
13 You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.
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