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Daily Devotions for the Advent and Christmas Seasons
Tuesday, January 5
Matthew 2:13-23
by Laurene Chan
For Ian’s first birthday, my family and I retreated to the calm of Lake Tahoe for the weekend. We had a place to stay. We knew which freeways to travel, which exit to take. We traveled during the light of day. We had a comfortable minivan, plenty of clothes and food, and plenty of time to plan our trip.
In today’s story, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and escape to Egypt!” So in the middle of the night, Joseph took his family and left. They didn’t have time to decide which outfits to pack, what snacks to bring, nor did they have roomy transportation. They had to travel under the cover of darkness. And all this with a baby!
They left Bethlehem because Herod had been told that a baby boy out there threatened his kingship. So he ordered that all boys in Bethlehem two years old and under be killed. I wonder what I would have done.
There are bound to be events in our lives that catch us off guard and make us question our faith and doubt God, but the hope I get from this passage is that no matter how frightening or threatened our lives might be, God is faithful to us; God is with us.
Through angels and dreams and the actions of an obedient and faithful servant, a little baby survived the evil intent of a powerful man and became for us Emmanuel, God with us, forever!
What will God’s angels and dreams say to you this Christmas season? How will your obedience and faithfulness to God bring about wholeness for yourself and those around you? How will you be the presence of God for someone today?
Prayer
O Light of the world, shine your glory upon this earth. Give strength to the weary and worried. Guide those who travel in darkness. Move me, beyond my imagination, to love those who need your love. Use me, God, so that my family and the communities to which I belong will experience your loving and healing presence. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.