Hidden Agendas

Then Herod, when he realized that he had been misled by the wise men, was furiously enraged, and he sent and put to death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that territory who were two years old and under, reckoning according to the date which he had investigated diligently and had learned exactly from the wise men. Matthew 2:16 (Amplified Bible)

Herod’s rage led to murder but it was based in the idea that he had been betrayed. At least that was the lie he told himself and decided to believe. He was actually the one who was doing the misleading by seeking to convince the wise men that he intended on worshiping the Christ child. Had he told them the truth, they would have never agreed to return to him with information of where to find the babe. Unbeknownst to him, God had revealed his hidden agenda to the wise men and directed them to return home another route. They listened to God and followed His instructions. Herod was not a seeker of truth therefore he never found it. He also never found the freedom that comes from knowing and walking in the truth.

I have been guilty of the same “Herod mentality.” Many have been the hidden agendas of my own heart that I thought would remain my secret in order to get what I wanted or get my needs met. I know now that God will not allow that form of manipulation to continue in the life of any child of His. He loves me too much to permit me to stay in bondage to such thinking and actions. He also loves His other children too much to allow my manipulation to affect them. It has been a two step process that He has been walking me through.

First, I had to see the truth of my own heart for myself. I had to see what I was doing and why I was doing it. I had to be honest with myself and God as to the condition of my internal world and the insecurities and fears that were a part of me. Then, I had to be willing to admit the truth to another individual. I have noticed that the more I do that, the more I walk in freedom. What I am not willing to admit to myself or others will continue to master and control me. When I allow myself to “blow my own cover” I am empowered to go beyond the places of imprisonment.

I am not one for standing before a congregation or group of people and admitting every weakness and failure I have ever had. But I am convinced that one-on-one acknowledgement with a trusted friend opens me up to a world of healing that I have known little of up to this point.

Father, keep showing me the hidden agendas of my heart. I know now the freedom that comes from getting out in the open what the enemy seeks to keep concealed and out of sight. Amen.

He Knows My Name - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXsiWoyjw60&feature=related

Fixing my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith!