The season of Christmas has almost come and gone. Many are now taking down the tree and the lights. The manger scene becomes a memory stored in boxes and put away.
The Christmas story does not end with Christ in the manger. It continues throughout history to fulfill God’s plan.
After the kings visited the Christ child, an angel of God 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.” Matthew 2:13.
Joseph once again obeyed God’s command and took the child and his mother to Egypt to flee from the vengeance of Herod When it was safe, the angel appeared to Joseph again in a dream and told him to return to the land of Israel. This fulfilled what the Lord said through the prophets: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Hosea 11:1.
Herod was afraid of the Christ because he thought he came to take away his kingdom, his throne. Herod misunderstood the reason for Christ’s coming. He could not understand that He came to give him eternal life, not to take away his throne.
Today many people have the idea that Christ wants to take something away from them. A teenager once made this remark to me: “I can’t become a Christian yet; I have too many things I want to do first.” This young man could not realize that if he gave his heart to Jesus first, then his wants would change.
Jesus came to give us eternal life and the freedom to enjoy life through His love each day of the year. That takes nothing away and gives us everything.
Have a blessed day!
In Christian love,
Diane