Herod...believed in God?

”Eeeeeee!" I remember feeling like i wanted to stretch until my joints came out of my sockets, when I had my first bout with restless leg syndrome in elementary, my variation of it affecting my arms down to my fingertips, not just my legs.

But it looks like it feels so good when babies do it. Stretch, I mean. The other day, I was watching some wake up after a good night's rest in tight swaddling, and they were irresistably adorable. 

How could anyone kill innocent infants (Matt. 2:16)? But...then I realized that King Herod's slaughter of babies was because he believed in God!

Some people think only those who don't believe in God do horrific things. Not so. Herod knew he'd acquired the throne by craft. When he heard the Christchild--the rightful heir to the throne--was born, the reason he felt threatened by a helpless baby born in poverty was because he BELIEVED a God in Heaven was out to get him.

Why else would a powerful head of government issue orders to wipe out defenseless infants of his own people?

Some have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge, according to the Bible. Paul believed God, but he persecuted followers of Christ. Pharisees believed God, but framed, shamed, and crucified Jesus. Religious leaders, in the name of God, have tormented laity down through history. So...just believing in God isn't enough?

What God says about us, not what we believe about Him, seems to be more important. Hm. Does God say, lovingly, "This is my beloved child."--as this father and mother clearly feel towards their boy--when He looks at us? That's what He said when He looked at Jesus being baptized; the pastor said this morning. Here is a pic from last month when he says he unintentionally almost drowned a young member baptizing her!

P.S.: (The redeemed have a special relationship with God, but it doesn't do away with our need to constantly repent. Some church workers attain ministry ends by ungodly means; there are perpetual relationship self-sins among the flock. However, unlike Herod, we know the One with Whom we have to do is a Merciful Everlasting Father.)