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Monday, January 12, 2009
When God Stays Away
After the wise men left, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph
in a dream. The angel said, "Get up! Take the baby and his
mother and escape to Egypt. Herod will start looking for the
baby. Herod wants to kill him. So stay in Egypt until I tell
you {it is safe}."
-- Matthew 2:13 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Egypt was a long hard journey and a great unknown to this young family.
Yet it was God's place of protection. God's commands can call us to
something undesirable, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable. Yet the Father
shows us his reason for these demands throughout revealed Scripture. He
wants to protect us and bless us, just as he protected Joseph, Mary,
and Jesus from King Herod at this crucial juncture in Jesus' life. When
fully analyzed, many of God's commands are not unreasonable demands or
prohibitions, but they are part of his protection. When we do what God
commands, we are blessed and protected in ways we may never understand.
In addition, our obedience ensures that we are available to be used by
him, in his work, at his time.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Thank you, God, for caring not only about my holiness, but also for my
physical and spiritual protection. Give me strength to stay away from
those things you prohibit, courage to do what you ask of me, and
excitement to enjoy the life I have in you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
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>> For further study of today's passage, use our
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http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+2:13&sr=1&t=erv
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