Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - Child

 Chapter 3: Child Day 4

Praying the Name:

Matthew 2:13-20 - Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.”

Father, 

    I come to praise You for never abandoning Your plan to save us, that You stood and allowed all to work out Your way so that we could be saved in Jesus fulfillment of the promises and prophecies of the Bible without sin. 

    I thank You that Jesus shared in our suffering in that He was tempted and had bad things happen to Him, and yet He never sinned. But He felt the shame, disappointment and things of our sins when He took them on the cross so that we could be saved. 

    I ask for forgiveness when I try to hide my faith in You and show that I am not saved and changed. I do not have that issue so much anymore because I am old enough to be devoted without fear and I think I could stand to die now that I know I have a home to go to and I am ready to go. 

    Father, I ask that You help me to hear and understand the Gospel the way that You most desire of me, that I live it and obey the things that You have said to me. I ask for help in going back to church as I do NOT want to go back. 

    I also pray that our hearts will shine with His love and others will see just how much that they need Him in their lives. 

    Thank You for listening to. I love You as much as I know how. 

In Jesus Name, 

    Amen 

    Christmas is about a Baby - The Lords birthday story is a dramatic and richly and layered narrative that bears careful rereading.  It contains the DNA of the Gospel, linking the child Jesus to Israels past, present and future. Like a seed that encapsules the unfolding story of salvation, past, present and to come. 

    After Jesus is born it is already seeing opposition towards the child by Herod. An angel appears to Joseph and tells them to flee to Egypt. It is the Exodus story in miniature. 

Hosea 11:1 - “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Luke 2:10-12 - Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

    The shepherds were amazed and telling everyone about Jesus, they had seen the long-awaited Savior the Good Shepherd. 

    The Christmas story is about a child and not about a child - about the great story of God's love stretched across the centuries of life. 

Luke 2:34-35 - Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

    Even as a child Jesus created turbulence in the world, His mere existence demanded a response, either love Him or hate Him, accept His message or try to squash it. 

    Why then do we get surprised about opposition because of our faith? If we bear the image of Christ in us, we will certainly cause offence to some, but many others will welcome the Jesus they see in us. 

    Pray today that Christ will shine more brightly in our hearts and in every heart that belongs to Him. because God wants to reveal His Son to a world that is dying to know Him.