January 4

Matthew 2:13-23 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

Matthew 2:15, 17, 23
15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son."
17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
23And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Observation

At a first glance, it seems like the events that took place in these passages seem like God's reaction to immediate events of that time but not so. Each action, Joseph taking the child and mother to Egypt (Mt2:14), Herod killing all male children under two years old in the region of Bethlehem (Mt 2:16), and finally Joseph bringing back the child and mother not back to Judea but to Nazareth in Galilee (Mt.2:23), was foretold through God’s prophets hundreds of years before all this took place. Which goes to show that God has a purpose and a plan long before it happens. He knows everything---past, present and future. There is nothing that happens that is not filtered through Him.

Application

Sometimes unpleasant, unexpected circumstances happen in our lives. Sometimes we end up in a place that we had not planned to be in. How shall we take that? Moan, whine, with anger and bitterness? It is comforting to know that there is nothing that happens in our lives that God doesn’t know about. As long as we are obeying His instructions to us (through His Word and prayer revealed by the Holy Spirit), we will be exactly where we should be. God did not shelter even His Son from life circumstances but with Joseph’s obedience to His guidance kept the child Jesus safe.
God has a definite good and perfect plan and a purpose for everyone. Am I following God’s perfect plan? Am I listening to His instructions and obey them even though I can’t understand why at the moment? Am I listening to His voice and following His instructions for my children?

Prayer

Lord God, you know everything and you are in control of all things. Help me to be led by you and not my own desires and plan that is shortsighted but that I will be in your good and perfect will and plan. Help me to be so in tune with your Spirit so that when you tell me to “do,” I will do and when you tell me to “go,” I will go. Help me also to trust you with every event of my life and of every member of my family's life because you know what is best. For you knew each one of us before we were born and you know our future. Thank you Lord for your presence and guidance in our lives. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

--km3