FRIDAY: AM I SEARCHING FOR JESUS?

Dec 23, 2022
2 min read

Matthew 2:13-18

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.”

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

God knew of Herod’s plan to kill His Son. God sent an angel to warn Joseph of Herod’s plan and protect Jesus, Joseph, and Mary in the land of Egypt. Doesn’t it seem ironic that Egypt, a land that had been a place of slavery for God’s people, now becomes a place of refuge for God’s Son?

Joseph followed the Divine guidance, went to Egypt, and stayed until he heard that Herod had died. Herod died in 4 B.C. In the meantime, Herod went on a rampage when he learned he had been outwitted by the Magi, who didn’t return to tell him where they found Jesus. Herod had been looking for Jesus, but God prevented Herod from finding Him.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS

When I don’t find Jesus, I am prone to walk in sin. Sin causes me to do terrible things, which destroy my life and the lives of others. In Herod’s case, he had the earthly power to kill and destroy, but in the end, he lost his life.

Am I searching for Jesus? He is only a prayer away from saving my life forever.

God, thank You for blessing me with Jesus in my heart. He has come with the Holy Spirit into my heart to cleanse me of sin and guide my life in You. Amen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman