Hostile, Lukewarm, or All-In? by Pastor Steve Lombardo

Devotional

Day 1: Christmas Means Worship: Choose Your Response to Jesus

Christmas invites a response. Some resist Jesus, some ignore Him, and some bow in worship. The wise men show us that real wisdom is not merely knowing facts about God but traveling whatever distance it takes to meet Him. They came ready to rejoice, to kneel, and to give. Today you can let joy lead you to humble adoration and honest surrender. Choose worship over worry, wonder over cynicism, and a kneeling heart over a hurried life [03:56].

Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11 — After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, travelers from the east arrived in Jerusalem asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw His star rise and came to honor Him.” When the star settled over the place where the child was, their joy overflowed; entering the house, they saw Jesus with Mary, fell to the ground in homage, and offered treasures of gold, incense, and myrrh.

Reflection: Which of the three responses—hostility, apathy, or worship—shows up most in your heart right now, and what is one simple practice this week that would embody a worshipful response to Jesus?

Day 2: Laying Down Our Inner Herod

Herod feared losing control, so the news of Jesus unsettled him. Fear can make a heart guarded, suspicious, and defensive—especially when Jesus’ kingship touches our plans. Yet the One who comes is not a tyrant but a Shepherd-King who brings life. Where fear tightens its grip, Jesus invites release, trust, and honesty. You can acknowledge where control is driving you and let Christ be King there today [06:49].

Matthew 2:3-8 — When Herod heard about the child, he was deeply disturbed, and so was Jerusalem. He gathered the chief priests and scribes to learn where the Messiah would be born, and they answered, “In Bethlehem of Judea.” Secretly he questioned the travelers about when the star first appeared, then sent them to search carefully, saying they should report back so he too could come and “honor” the child.

Reflection: Where do you notice a protective, controlling reflex rise up when Jesus’ authority touches your life, and how might you take one small step of trust in that specific place?

Day 3: Five Miles from Wonder: Guarding Against Apathy

The religious leaders knew the Scriptures and could point to Bethlehem, yet they would not walk the short road to see the promised King. Knowledge without movement can dull the heart, especially amid busyness and noise. Apathy often disguises itself as convenience, routine, or being “too busy.” Jesus may be closer than you think, asking only a small step of curiosity and faith. Don’t let a five-mile distance of distraction keep you from drawing near to Him today [11:16].

Micah 5:2 — Bethlehem in Judah, though small among the clans, from you will come a ruler to shepherd my people; His origin reaches back before your days and is rooted in eternity.

Reflection: What is one “five-mile” step—brief, practical, and doable—you could take this week to move from knowing about Jesus to actually seeking Him?

Day 4: Costly Worship and the True Gift-Bearer

The wise men offered treasures, but Jesus Himself is the greater gift—our King, our High Priest, and our sacrifice. Gold hints at His kingship, frankincense at His priestly work, and myrrh at His death for us. He rules with victory, draws us near to God, and bears our sin in love. Because He gave Himself completely, we can come boldly and worship freely. Let your worship cost something today—time, attention, or obedience—offered to the One who first offered everything for you [17:23].

Hebrews 4:14-16 — Since we have a great High Priest—Jesus, the Son of God—who has gone through the heavens, let us hold firmly to our confession. He understands our weakness, having faced testing in every way, yet without sin. So we can approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and find timely help.

Reflection: Which aspect of Jesus’ identity speaks to you most today—King, High Priest, or Sacrifice—and how could you express worship that fits that truth in a concrete way?

Day 5: Joy in Generous Giving

When the wise men bowed, they opened their treasures; real worship naturally overflows in generosity. Giving is not loss but gain—God wired our hearts to rejoice as we bless others. Jesus reminds us that the deeper joy is found in releasing rather than clutching. Your offering—of time, skills, or resources—can become a channel of His mercy and mission. Ask God to multiply what you give today for His glory and others’ good, and find the joy He promised [19:22].

Acts 20:35 — Remember the Lord Jesus’ words: real blessedness is found not in receiving, but in giving; therefore, work hard to help the weak and let His generosity shape your own.

Reflection: Looking at your week ahead, where can you practice one specific act of generous giving—of time, attention, or resources—and who will practically benefit from it?

Sermon Summary

Christmas means worship. That’s what we see in Mary’s surrender, Joseph’s trust and obedience, and the wise men’s adoration. Matthew 2 puts three responses to Jesus side-by-side. Herod is hostile. The chief priests and scribes are indifferent. And the wise men bow low with joy and costly gifts. Those three reactions are still with us. Some feel threatened by a King who will not share the throne. Others know the truth but are too busy, too comfortable, or too entangled to get up and walk the five miles. And then there are those who will cross deserts for the joy of kneeling at Jesus’ feet.

Herod shows us where self-rule goes when it’s cornered: suspicion, manipulation, and violence. The impulse behind Invictus—“I am the master of my fate”—sounds brave, but it corrodes the soul. It leaves us clutching control we cannot keep, and missing a King whose reign brings healing. The religious leaders show another danger: proximity without pursuit. They could quote the prophet and still refuse to take the short journey to Bethlehem. Knowledge without movement becomes a sedative. It numbs rather than nourishes love.

But the wise men show us the way. God, in mercy, spoke in a language they could recognize and led them to Jesus. Their learning bowed to a greater Light, their joy overflowed, and their knees found the floor. Their gifts preached a gospel: gold for the true King, frankincense for our High Priest, myrrh for the One who would die to reconcile us to God. He is Christus Victor and our Mediator, the One whose blood opens the way for us to come.

So we worship by coming, bowing, and giving—not the leftovers of convenience, but gifts that say, “You are worthy.” Even science can see what Jesus said: it is better to give than receive. Generosity reshapes us; it frees us from the small world of self. In this season, let’s be all-in with our time, our talents, and our treasures—asking God to multiply what we bring into salvation and joy in our neighborhoods and to the nations. Let’s walk our five miles, fall to our knees, and adore our King.

Key Takeaways

1. Reject Herod’s self-ruled life. The fear of losing control turns our hearts suspicious and hard. Hostility toward Jesus often hides the terror of surrendering our little kingdoms. Bowing to Christ is not the loss of freedom but the path into a larger, truer life. Let his kingship unseat your self-protection. [03:56]
2. Beware proximity without pursuit. The leaders knew the prophecy and lived five miles away, yet they never moved. Information without obedience dulls desire; it can make us feel safe while our hearts grow distant. Don’t let busyness, status, or comfort keep you from walking toward Jesus. Take the small steps that reawaken love. [10:41]
3. Choose the wise men’s posture. They traveled, rejoiced, fell down, and worshiped—before they had full clarity. Humility opens space for God to meet us, and joy follows when we lay our honors at his feet. God often speaks in ways we can recognize, but always to lead us to Jesus. Seek him and let worship re-order your life. [14:16]
4. Give costly, Christ-honoring gifts. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh confess Jesus as King, Priest, and Sacrifice. Our generosity becomes a lived creed, aligning our treasure with his worth and mission. Giving is not loss; it is participation in God’s joy and purposes. Let your giving preach the gospel your lips confess. [16:04]
5. Let Christ captain your soul. Self-mastery boasts loudest when it is most afraid; faith bows gladly because it has seen a better Captain. True courage is not stubborn defiance but surrendered trust in the One who conquered death. Make the confession the magi lived: Christ is the master of my fate. [15:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:31] - Mary worships by surrender
[00:58] - Joseph trusts and obeys
[01:41] - Matthew 2:1-12 reading
[03:21] - Prayer for worshipful hearts
[03:56] - Herod’s hostile reaction
[06:30] - Modern hostility toward Christ
[09:42] - Religious leaders’ apathy
[10:41] - Bethlehem is five miles away
[11:47] - Tale of two cats illustration
[13:12] - Wise men arrive and worship
[16:04] - Meaning of gold, frankincense, myrrh
[18:01] - The joy and science of giving
[20:00] - All-in generosity and mission
[21:03] - Testimony video introduction

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: Matthew 2:1-12

Observation questions

In Matthew 2:1-12, what three groups appear (Herod, the chief priests/scribes, the wise men), and what specific words or actions show each group’s heart posture?
How far was Bethlehem from Jerusalem, and what does that detail highlight about the chief priests and scribes? “Bethlehem is five miles away” [10:41]
Trace the wise men’s journey from the text: what did they do when they saw the star, and what did they do when they entered the house where Jesus was?
What gifts did the wise men present to Jesus?

Interpretation questions

What does Herod’s troubled and hostile response reveal about a heart that clings to control? “This is a threat to me” [06:30]
What does “proximity without pursuit” look like when people know the truth but won’t take the small step to move toward Jesus? “Bethlehem is five miles away” [10:41]
What does it tell us about God’s mercy that he “spoke their language” and led the wise men by a star—meeting them where they were to bring them to Jesus? “God spoke their language” [13:34]
How do gold, frankincense, and myrrh together confess who Jesus is, and how should that shape the way believers worship today? “Jesus is our high priest… our mediator” [17:23]

Application questions

Where do you notice a Herod-like impulse in your life—protecting your little kingdom or resisting Jesus’ rule? What would surrender look like in that exact spot this week? “This is a threat to me” [06:30]
What are your “five miles” to walk toward Jesus right now—a simple, concrete step of obedience you’ve been postponing (confession, reconciliation, daily prayer, serving, showing up)? Name it and plan when you will take it. “Bethlehem is five miles away” [10:41]
God often meets humble seekers. When and where will you “come, bow, and worship” in a tangible way this week—even before you have full clarity? Consider an actual posture of kneeling in prayer or worship. “They fell down and worshipped him” [14:16]
Consider giving not just what’s convenient. What is one costly, Christ-honoring gift you can bring—time, talent, or treasure—to bless your church, your neighborhood, or the nations this month? “They offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh” [16:04]
In what area have you been living by the creed “I am the captain of my soul”? What would it mean to make the wiser confession in that same place: “Christ is the captain of my soul”? “Christ is the captain of my soul” [15:17]
Where have you settled for information without obedience—listening and learning but not moving? What one small act of obedience could reawaken love this week? “Lacking enthusiasm or carelessly lazy” [10:02]
How will you practice the joy of generosity in this season—planning a specific act of giving that stretches you and blesses others? What’s one step you can take today? “It is better to give than to receive” [18:51]

Sermon Clips

``Now we see the reaction of the wise men. The wise men worshipped. They came from the east, probably Persia. They were astrologers. That's the belief that God can speak through the heavens. And in this case, God did. God spoke their language by his grace and mercy to lead them to the Messiah. Now that doesn't mean that we should run to our horoscopes or tarot cards or to psychics. God speaks to us through his word. But God, in this instance, he spoke their language and he led them to where Jesus was. [00:13:18] (44 seconds) #WiseMenWorship

He takes the punishment we deserve upon himself. He is our great high priest. He is the one who is our mediator. We don't need a priest here on earth to confess our sins to or to mediate between us and God. We can go directly to the throne of grace because Jesus is our high priest. And the last thing, the myrrh, the embalming fluid reflects that this happens through the death of Jesus Christ. And so these gifts were prophetic in nature concerning Jesus Christ and who he is and what he has done. [00:17:19] (41 seconds) #JesusOurHighPriest

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