He Was Afraid to Go There

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He Was Afraid  to Go There

Sometimes God uses our fears  to guide us  in the way He wants us  to go.     And,  that’s perfectly okay,  so long as our greatest desire is  to live  according to God’s ways.     That is how it was  for Joseph and Mary.     King Herod was trying  to kill the baby Jesus,  because he didn’t want anyone else  to be king,  so Joseph and Mary fled  to Egypt  with God’s direction,  and stayed there until Herod died.     Then we read  in Matthew 2:19-23,

But when Herod was dead,  behold an angel  of the Lord  appeared in a dream  to Joseph  in Egypt,  saying,  “Arise and take the Child  and His mother,  and go into the land  of Israel;  for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”

And he arose  and took the Child and His mother,  and came into the land of Israel.     But  when he heard  that Archelaus  was reigning over Judea  in the place of his father Herod,  he was afraid  to go there.     And being warned by God  in a dream,  he departed  for the regions  of Galilee,  and came and resided  in a city called  Nazareth,  that what was spoken  through the prophets  might be fulfilled,  “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

At the times  in his life,  when Joseph was apprehensive and afraid,  his thoughts were of God,  and God chose  to lead him  by having an angel speak  to him  in a dream.     That happened when he learned  of Mary’s pregnancy,  when Herod was looking  to kill Jesus,  when it was time  to return to Israel,  and when it was necessary  to live  in a town  where the wicked Archelaus would not find him.

When we let God  be the center  of our lives,  as Joseph and Mary did,  our Lord guides us  in every situation.     We might be fearful,  anxious,  sad,  or whatever.     At all times,  we need to be open  to our Lord’s guidance,  and trust His love  for us.     Hearts that are ready  and willing  to obey God’s will  are the hearts  that are enabled  to stay on the right path.

Staying grounded  in God’s word,  while trusting and obeying His ways,  gives our anxious thoughts the assurance  we need  when the going is tough.     Then,  resting in the love  of our Lord,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  thank You for caring  and for staying near us  at all times.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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