5-Day Devotional: Where Is He?
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Day 1: Seeking Jesus in the Word
Reading: Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 2:1-6
Devotional: The wise men knew where to find Jesus because they knew God's Word. They didn't stumble upon the Messiah by accident—they searched the Scriptures and followed what had been prophesied. God's promise remains true today: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart." Jesus isn't hiding from you. He isn't waiting for you to become perfect before revealing Himself. The question is: are you seeking Him with your whole heart? Open His Word today with expectation. Search the Scriptures not as a religious duty, but as a treasure hunt where the prize is knowing Jesus more deeply. When you seek Him earnestly, you will find Him, and in finding Him, you'll discover truth, purpose, and life itself.
Reflection: What distractions keep you from seeking Jesus wholeheartedly in His Word?
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Day 2: The Joy of Finding Jesus
Reading: Matthew 2:9-10; Psalm 16:11
Devotional: Matthew doesn't simply say the wise men were happy—he says "they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." This wasn't ordinary happiness dependent on circumstances; this was soul-deep joy that comes only from encountering the living God. The wise men had traveled hundreds of miles, faced uncertainty and danger, yet when they found Jesus, overwhelming joy flooded their hearts. This same joy is available to you today. The world offers temporary happiness through possessions, achievements, and relationships, but only Jesus offers joy that transcends circumstances. When you come face-to-face with who Jesus truly is—your Savior, your Shepherd, your King—you experience a joy the world cannot give and cannot take away. Have you experienced this joy, or are you settling for lesser things?
Reflection: Where are you seeking joy? Are you looking to Jesus or to temporary sources?
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Day 3: Worship That Costs Something
Reading: Matthew 2:11; Romans 12:1-2
Devotional: When the wise men finally met Jesus, they didn't just acknowledge Him—they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and gave Him their best: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These weren't cheap gifts; they were costly, valuable, fit for a king. True worship always costs us something. It's easy to sing songs on Sunday or say prayers before meals, but worship that transforms requires surrender. What treasures are you holding back from Jesus? Your time? Your finances? Your dreams? Your control? The wise men teach us that authentic discipleship means opening our lives completely to Jesus, trusting Him with our most valuable possessions. When you give Jesus your best—not your leftovers—you discover that He is worthy of everything and that life surrendered to Him is life truly lived.
Reflection: What costly obedience is Jesus calling you to today?
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Day 4: The Troubled Heart of Rejection
Reading: Matthew 2:3-8; John 3:16-20
Devotional: While the wise men rejoiced, Herod was troubled. He heard the same news, had access to the same Scriptures, yet his response was completely different. Why? Because Herod saw Jesus as a threat to his control rather than as Savior. When we cling to control, grasp for power, or trust in fragile sources of fulfillment, Jesus feels threatening rather than liberating. Herod's troubled heart became increasingly anxious and paranoid as he tried to eliminate what he couldn't control. Many people today live with this same troubled heart—not because God is absent, but because they're resisting His presence. They fear the changes Jesus might bring, the control they might lose, the comfortable sins they might have to surrender. But insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly expecting different results. If your heart is troubled, consider that perhaps you're rejecting the very One who offers peace.
Reflection: Are you resisting God's work in your life because you fear change?
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Day 5: Great Joy or Troubled Heart—Your Choice
Reading: Matthew 2:1-12; Joshua 24:14-15
Devotional: The question "Where is He?" demands an answer. The wise men and Herod represent two responses available to every person. The wise men sought Jesus, found Him, worshiped Him, and experienced exceeding great joy. Herod rejected Jesus, tried to eliminate Him, and lived with a troubled, anxious heart. The same choice stands before you today. You can seek Jesus through His Word and prayer, worship Him with obedience and surrender, and experience joy beyond measure. Or you can reject Him, cling to your illusions of control, and remain troubled. This isn't about religion or tradition—it's about relationship. Jesus offers salvation, hope, forgiveness, and abundant life. But the gift must be received. Where is Jesus in your life today? Is He your joy, your treasure, your everything? Or have you pushed Him aside? The difference between these choices is eternal. Choose joy. Choose Jesus.
Reflection: Will you surrender everything to Jesus today and experience His unexplainable joy?
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Day 1: Seeking Jesus in the Word
Reading: Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 2:1-6
Devotional: The wise men knew where to find Jesus because they knew God's Word. They didn't stumble upon the Messiah by accident—they searched the Scriptures and followed what had been prophesied. God's promise remains true today: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart." Jesus isn't hiding from you. He isn't waiting for you to become perfect before revealing Himself. The question is: are you seeking Him with your whole heart? Open His Word today with expectation. Search the Scriptures not as a religious duty, but as a treasure hunt where the prize is knowing Jesus more deeply. When you seek Him earnestly, you will find Him, and in finding Him, you'll discover truth, purpose, and life itself.
Reflection: What distractions keep you from seeking Jesus wholeheartedly in His Word?
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Day 2: The Joy of Finding Jesus
Reading: Matthew 2:9-10; Psalm 16:11
Devotional: Matthew doesn't simply say the wise men were happy—he says "they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." This wasn't ordinary happiness dependent on circumstances; this was soul-deep joy that comes only from encountering the living God. The wise men had traveled hundreds of miles, faced uncertainty and danger, yet when they found Jesus, overwhelming joy flooded their hearts. This same joy is available to you today. The world offers temporary happiness through possessions, achievements, and relationships, but only Jesus offers joy that transcends circumstances. When you come face-to-face with who Jesus truly is—your Savior, your Shepherd, your King—you experience a joy the world cannot give and cannot take away. Have you experienced this joy, or are you settling for lesser things?
Reflection: Where are you seeking joy? Are you looking to Jesus or to temporary sources?
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Day 3: Worship That Costs Something
Reading: Matthew 2:11; Romans 12:1-2
Devotional: When the wise men finally met Jesus, they didn't just acknowledge Him—they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and gave Him their best: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These weren't cheap gifts; they were costly, valuable, fit for a king. True worship always costs us something. It's easy to sing songs on Sunday or say prayers before meals, but worship that transforms requires surrender. What treasures are you holding back from Jesus? Your time? Your finances? Your dreams? Your control? The wise men teach us that authentic discipleship means opening our lives completely to Jesus, trusting Him with our most valuable possessions. When you give Jesus your best—not your leftovers—you discover that He is worthy of everything and that life surrendered to Him is life truly lived.
Reflection: What costly obedience is Jesus calling you to today?
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Day 4: The Troubled Heart of Rejection
Reading: Matthew 2:3-8; John 3:16-20
Devotional: While the wise men rejoiced, Herod was troubled. He heard the same news, had access to the same Scriptures, yet his response was completely different. Why? Because Herod saw Jesus as a threat to his control rather than as Savior. When we cling to control, grasp for power, or trust in fragile sources of fulfillment, Jesus feels threatening rather than liberating. Herod's troubled heart became increasingly anxious and paranoid as he tried to eliminate what he couldn't control. Many people today live with this same troubled heart—not because God is absent, but because they're resisting His presence. They fear the changes Jesus might bring, the control they might lose, the comfortable sins they might have to surrender. But insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly expecting different results. If your heart is troubled, consider that perhaps you're rejecting the very One who offers peace.
Reflection: Are you resisting God's work in your life because you fear change?
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Day 5: Great Joy or Troubled Heart—Your Choice
Reading: Matthew 2:1-12; Joshua 24:14-15
Devotional: The question "Where is He?" demands an answer. The wise men and Herod represent two responses available to every person. The wise men sought Jesus, found Him, worshiped Him, and experienced exceeding great joy. Herod rejected Jesus, tried to eliminate Him, and lived with a troubled, anxious heart. The same choice stands before you today. You can seek Jesus through His Word and prayer, worship Him with obedience and surrender, and experience joy beyond measure. Or you can reject Him, cling to your illusions of control, and remain troubled. This isn't about religion or tradition—it's about relationship. Jesus offers salvation, hope, forgiveness, and abundant life. But the gift must be received. Where is Jesus in your life today? Is He your joy, your treasure, your everything? Or have you pushed Him aside? The difference between these choices is eternal. Choose joy. Choose Jesus.
Reflection: Will you surrender everything to Jesus today and experience His unexplainable joy?