“And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.” (Matthew 2:12)
Matthew recorded what God warned the wise men who had come to bring gifts unto the new King.
“…Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we… are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)
The wise men from the east had learned from the chief priests and scribes that “The Christ” (the Messiah) was to be born in “Bethlehem of Judaea” (Matthew 2:5-6; Micah 5:2). They found the child in “the house” (Matthew 2:11), not in a stable, not in a manger (so this was a space of some time after His actual birth). When they saw the Child, they fell down and worshipped Him and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Then they (the wise men) were warned of God in a dream not to go back and report to Herod, but to go home “another way” (Matthew 2:12).
In its first interpretation, this verse means that they physically went back home a different way, by-passing King Herod.
However, it can be viewed spiritually in the following manner:
When you are in the very presence of the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, God in the flesh – it changes your direction in life. When Jesus is revealed to your spirit, that He is King of His People (the people of God) and that He is your King; then you are given a new view of Jesus that will change your entire life. The fact is, you will go “another way.”
The first approach to Jesus is one of a seeking sinner with the understanding that he is a sinner before God (Romans 7:1-14). He is made to face the Law of God, which in turn convicts him of the fact that he is a sinner (Romans 3:19-23).
The process of regeneration is explained in many verses (Ephesians 2:1-9; John 6:63, 44-45, 65; John 3:1-8; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:7-10). It starts with the sinner being quickened by the Spirit of God (John 6:63; Ephesians 2:1-3). Then the quickened sinner is drawn to see Christ as Substitute (2 Corinthians 5:21), Sacrifice (Isaiah 53:1-12; Ephesians 1:7), and Savior (Romans 3:24-25; 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-9; etc.). Then the quickened, converted sinner is drawn by God to see that his Salvation is Christ Himself; and confession is made of the same (Romans 10:9-10). The sinner comes to rest in Christ as his Lord, Master, Savior, and King. He falls down before his King and worships Him.
The Path from the King is “another way”; from that point on the saved sinner:
- Has no fellowship with this world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 John 2:15-17);
- But comes out from among them and is separate in his talk, walk, and deeds;
- Walks in the Love of God (John 13:34-35; Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 2:4-6);
- Walks in the Light, circumspectly, filled with the Spirit, in praises of thanksgiving, in singing, and in submission one to the other (Ephesians 5:1-21);
- Walks in holiness and peace (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:14-16);
- Walks in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; 8:13; 9:10; 14:26, 27);
- Walks in His Body, the Church; walks as His Wife (Ephesians 5:22-33).
The truth of the matter is, the new walk is based on a new nature in the believer:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)
When this happens to you, there is a new desire, because you have been given the Love of God in your heart (Romans 5:5). You have a new power, because you have been made free from the law of sin and death by the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2). You have a new calling (a high calling, a holy calling, and a heavenly calling); you have been called to bear fruit and that fruit remain (John 15:1-18; Galatians 5:22-23). You have been made a new man in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:25-29). You now are a servant of righteousness; you are His Friend, His Wife, His Bride, even His Body; you are now His (1 Corinthians 6:9-20).
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Yes, praise God, whether it is Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-8), the wise men (Matthew 2:12), Paul (Acts 9:1), or whoever – once you have been brought into the presence of the King Jesus, once you have bowed and worshipped Him; your life has been changed; your desire has been changed; and your power has been changed to allow you to go “another way.” That is, to go the way of the Holy Spirit; to be led of Him, to walk in Him, and to live in Him. Hallelujah! (See Galatians 5:16, 18, 25.)
Reader, are you going “another way”? You have no choice if you have ever been brought to bow before the King of kings, but to go “another way,” the way of love, holiness, and peace.
Examine yourself:
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Examine yourself to see where you stand and where you are walking in this wicked world. Are you going “another way“?
(This is a reprint from December 27, 2013.)
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