Usually when I read passages like this, I am so intrigued by (and a little jealous of) the specific instructions God gives people through things like stars, angels, and dreams. It just seems so easy to obey God when the instructions are so clear, so immediate, and so spoken by an angel. It’s not that the instructions themselves are easy….i.e. “run away to
In this ONE chapter FOUR prophecies are fulfilled (verses 6, 15, 18, and 23). How amazing is it that God’s plan had been in place since the beginning of time?! He had beautifully and masterfully orchestrated every event leading up to the arrival of the Messiah. Prophets had spoken of Him for hundreds of years. Their words had become Scripture and the Israelite people studied it with fervor. This blows my mind. The same God who had a perfect plan from the beginning also has a plan for ME! And although He spoke to some people through an “angel in a dream, star in the sky” kind of revelation, He spoke to most people through His Word…the same Word that I have access to every day!
Throughout times in my life when I have struggled with what to do or how to handle a situation, God’s Word has been there to guide me. College is definitely one of those times that requires much decision-making and situation-handling. One semester I was really struggling with typical college struggles and I had just reached the end of my rope. I was miserable. Then I read James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking any wisdom.” Although I had heard these verses many times before, I felt like this was a time I needed to live them out. So I prayed for God to help me consider my trials joy. Soon after, a message at church was about how God uses trials to shape us. There was no dream or vision of an angel, but God’s message to me had become clear. Today’s passage served as a personal reminder that when I am truly seeking Him, He will show Himself.
In Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby teaches that God uses four ways to speak to his people today: through prayer, through the church, through people, and through His Word. As you read today, you may learn something new about the magi, wonder what was running through Mary’s and Joseph’s minds as they fled to protect their child, or you may find comfort in the familiar story told at Christmas. Whatever it is, be sure to revel in the fact that God, the Creator of the universe and the orchestrator of the world, has a plan for your life too…and He’s not hiding it! What a great reminder this passage is of the importance of God’s Word every day.
Michelle, that is exactly what stood out to me while reading this chapter. I don't know how many times I've read that story, but for the first time today the prophecies stood out more than the rest. It's very comforting to remember that when all you want is writing on the wall. He'll reveal His plan in His timing.
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