Difficult Directions
Philip Piasecki
Christmastime is one of the best times of the year. There is nothing like all the family gatherings, parties with friends, and celebrations with the church during that season. I always thought Christmas was special, but it became even more special once I had kids. The look and joy on their faces opening up presents on Christmas morning are unlike anything else. However, the one part they do not warn you about in parenting class is the dread that comes along with assembling presents. We bought my daughter one of those wooden kid’s kitchens one year; and I swear, I almost had to just throw the whole thing away piece-by-piece. The directions did not make any sense, but I knew if I did not follow them, that kitchen would probably fall over on her when she finally started playing with it. I had to follow the directions so she would be safe and get to enjoy her gift.
Matthew 2:13-15 records, “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’”
Directions are there to keep us safe, even when we do not understand them. I cannot imagine what Mary and Joseph were thinking when the angel showed up telling them to flee to Egypt. We have to understand that at this point Jesus is around two years old. Mary and Joseph are dealing with a two-year-old, and they are told to uproot their life and flee to another country. This was not just taking their family down the road, this was a major life disruption. However, they obeyed because they knew it was for the safety of their son.
We need to be honest with ourselves, following the direction of Scripture is not always easy. Many times doing the right thing can be more difficult at the moment, but we understand that it is for our own good. Even though at the moment, disregarding God’s commands (sin) may seem easier, it will always make more of a mess in our life in the end. God loves and cares for us, and that is why He gives us commands in Scripture. It is not to bind us to some law, but to give us true freedom.
I am sure the time that Mary and Joseph were with Jesus in Egypt was not always a fun season of their life, but they knew that in the end, it would all be worth it. We have to understand in our own lives, that following the Lord is always worth it in the end. You may lose a relationship, lose a job, or lose out on your own desires when you follow the truth of Scripture. However, we know that in the end honoring the Lord and doing what is right is better than anything else this world has to offer us.
Philip Piasecki
Christmastime is one of the best times of the year. There is nothing like all the family gatherings, parties with friends, and celebrations with the church during that season. I always thought Christmas was special, but it became even more special once I had kids. The look and joy on their faces opening up presents on Christmas morning are unlike anything else. However, the one part they do not warn you about in parenting class is the dread that comes along with assembling presents. We bought my daughter one of those wooden kid’s kitchens one year; and I swear, I almost had to just throw the whole thing away piece-by-piece. The directions did not make any sense, but I knew if I did not follow them, that kitchen would probably fall over on her when she finally started playing with it. I had to follow the directions so she would be safe and get to enjoy her gift.
Matthew 2:13-15 records, “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’”
Directions are there to keep us safe, even when we do not understand them. I cannot imagine what Mary and Joseph were thinking when the angel showed up telling them to flee to Egypt. We have to understand that at this point Jesus is around two years old. Mary and Joseph are dealing with a two-year-old, and they are told to uproot their life and flee to another country. This was not just taking their family down the road, this was a major life disruption. However, they obeyed because they knew it was for the safety of their son.
We need to be honest with ourselves, following the direction of Scripture is not always easy. Many times doing the right thing can be more difficult at the moment, but we understand that it is for our own good. Even though at the moment, disregarding God’s commands (sin) may seem easier, it will always make more of a mess in our life in the end. God loves and cares for us, and that is why He gives us commands in Scripture. It is not to bind us to some law, but to give us true freedom.
I am sure the time that Mary and Joseph were with Jesus in Egypt was not always a fun season of their life, but they knew that in the end, it would all be worth it. We have to understand in our own lives, that following the Lord is always worth it in the end. You may lose a relationship, lose a job, or lose out on your own desires when you follow the truth of Scripture. However, we know that in the end honoring the Lord and doing what is right is better than anything else this world has to offer us.
Posted in Company at Christmas
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