Christmas At The Movies - Week 2 - Day 5
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, your word teaches that you are with us at all times. Thank you for the Holy Spirit in us that gives wisdom. Thank you for guiding and directing my steps as I trust in you every day. Amen.
“And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. Get up, he said take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet out of Egypt I called my son.”
REFLECT:
After finding Jesus and worshiping him, the wise men were warned by God not to return through Jerusalem like they had intended, but to go a different way.
There is an interesting parallel between Joseph's escape to Egypt and Israel's history. As an infant nation, Israel went to Egypt just as Jesus did as a child. God led Israel out (Hosea 11:1); God brought Jesus back. Both events show God working to save his people. Finding Jesus may mean that your life must take a different direction, one that is responsive and obedient to God's word. In what ways has Jesus affected the direction of your life?
APPLY:
Divine guidance or intervention comes only to prepared hearts. Just as Joseph and the wise men had trusted God's divine intervention, shouldn't we do as much? Divine intervention is defined as "a miracle of God that causes something good to happen or stops something bad from happening". Don't let anxiety and fear take over when circumstances threaten. God has a plan of deliverance.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Holy Father help us to be confident in your word; “From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.” (Ps.3:8). Amen.