The Holy Family is caught up in the fear and violence of the day. But God speaks in dreams and vision to preserve the Holy Family from the plans of Herod. Where might God be speaking to us today?
Worship with Holy Communion this week:
Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel
Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship
9:30 a.m. – Sunday School resumes
10:30 a.m. – Contemporary Worship
Devotions for the week of January 4, 2014
“The Flight to Egypt”
Reflect: Reflect on Sunday’s reading – Matthew 2:13-23
Study: Study the reading and consider the background.
Sometime within the first two years of Jesus’ birth, King Herod was alerted to the presence of a baby who was born destined to be king. To ensure the baby king would never rule, King Herod had all children under two killed.
But Herod would not touch Jesus. An angel of God warned Joseph in a dream to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt, where they would be safe from King Herod. They remained in Egypt until King Herod died. Again, an angel came to Joseph in a dream to announce it was safe to return to their homeland. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus settled in Nazareth.
God speaks to us in many ways. To Joseph, God spoke in a dream. Often God speaks to us through other people and events. Other times God speaks through stories, sermons, or Bible readings. Sometimes God speaks in the still, small voice inside of us that we hear through prayer and meditation.
Read: Follow the stories of God’s people in Egypt.
Sunday, Matthew 2:13-23, Flight to Egypt
Monday, Psalm 11:1-3, Psalm
Tuesday, Exodus 1:8-22, Israelites are Oppressed
Wednesday, Exodus 2:1-11, Birth of Moses
Thursday, Exodus 12:29-32, Death of the Firstborn
Friday, Hosea 11:1-12, A Promise Out of Egypt
Saturday, Jeremiah 31:15-17, Rachel Laments Her Children
- What does it say about Jesus that his story looks like the story of Moses, whom the Jews honored and revered as holy?
- What geographic locations hold special meaning to those in your community? What makes those places special? How do you celebrate those places?
- Reflect on where you anticipate your life’s journey will take you in the coming year. What are you anxious about? What are you looking forward to?
