Before You Plan 2026, Check Your Responses
There’s a story you’ve probably heard before—even if you didn’t grow up in church. One moment. One event. The birth of Jesus.
But what makes this story hit different at the start of a year isn’t the event itself. It’s the responses of those who experienced it.
Same moment. Same reality. Completely different reactions.
And honestly? That’s exactly how life works.
Three Responses. One Moment.
When Jesus was born, Matthew's account reveals three groups of people:
The scribes and teachers of the law
All of them heard the same news. All of them had access to the same moment.
But what they did with it changed everything.
1. The Wise Men: Curiosity That Led to Worship
The wise men didn’t have all the answers. They didn’t have the full Bible. They weren’t “perfectly positioned.”
But they were watchful. They noticed the star. They asked questions. They read the signs.
And they didn’t stop halfway. They didn’t get distracted. They didn’t say, “Well, at least we tried.” They persevered until they found Him.
Their response turned curiosity into encounter—and encounter into fulfillment.
2. Herod: Insecurity That Turned Deadly
But Herod felt threatened.
Instead of asking, “What does this mean?” He asked, “How does this affect me?”
Fear hijacked his thinking. Insecurity clouded his judgment. Power mattered more than truth.
And when insecurity goes unchecked, it never just stays internal—it spills over and hurts people.
3. The Scribes: Knowledge Without Readiness
The scribes literally had the scrolls. They knew the prophecies. They were supposed to be the ones preparing everyone.
But they missed the moment. They waited until a problem showed up before opening the book. They didn’t live prepared—they lived reactive.
Access to truth didn’t equal alignment with truth.
This Isn’t About Christmas
This isn’t a feel-good holiday post. This is about you. About us. About real life.
We’re quick to judge people for what they did or didn’t do.
We build assumptions. We collect offense. And eventually, it turns into broken relationships, unnecessary conflict, and emotional exhaustion.
But what if life isn’t grading you on what happens to you…? What if it’s grading you on how you respond?
The Real Question: What’s Going On Inside You?
Here’s the hard truth: How you respond to what happens around you is determined by what’s happening within you!
Nearness and fulfillment to the wise men
Fear and destruction to Herod
Indifference and missed timing to the scribes
Same moment. Different outcomes.
Not because of status. Not because of intelligence. But because of response.
You might be thinking about how to make 2026 different from 2025. New goals. New habits. New plans.
Here’s one thing you can’t afford to miss:
What you get in life is determined less by what people do to you—and more by how you respond to what they do.
Are you living watchful—or distracted?
Are you responding from insecurity—or from peace?
Are you prepared—or only reactive?
Because moments will come. Opportunities will come. Challenges will come.
The question is: Will your response position you to recognize them when they do?
And more importantly… Are you becoming the kind of person who’s ready before the moment arrives?
Let’s talk about it. Which response do you relate to most—and why? Drop it in the comments.
Take 5 minutes and reflect: What situations in your life keep triggering the same response patterns? What’s happening inside you that needs attention?
Write it down. One area of your life where you need to change your response—and one step you’ll take this week to prepare better.
Source: Before You Plan 2026, Check Your Responses
jacobvanloon
areudirty
2087
snowghoul
stormborns
