Matthew – God’s Purpose
Everyone is looking for something. I walk into a room looking for keys, brush, or anything else I need at the moment and forget the item I’m looking for almost immediately because I see something shiny or something that needs doing in that room. I could blame this on being older, but I have been doing this since I was a kid. My mom told me to take out the trash, while I was watching TV, asking several times until I did it. I finally obediently walked out the door to throw away the garbage in the can on our lot only to discover that when I lifted the lid, I had nothing in my hand. I had forgotten to actually bring the trash to the can. I walked the walk but didn’t complete the task. Distracted. We are a distracted bunch of humans.
The Jewish people forgot Who they were looking for after many years of not hearing from God. God told them a Savior would come. He told them what He would do for them and through them. Not only were they distracted, many missed Him completely. When Jesus arrived on earth, those in power were afraid of losing everything their own hands had built. But there were also many who found him. They found what and Who they were looking for in Jesus. Wise men still seek Him today.Matthew 2, New King James Version
Wise Men from the East
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, [a]wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
The Flight into Egypt
13 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.”
14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 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.”
Massacre of the Innocents
16 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. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
18 “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.”
The Home in Nazareth
19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 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.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
FROM THE HEART…
Where is He? Jesus Christ lives in all who believe and who are obedient to God. He is present with all who worship Him alone, over everything and everyone else. He is forgiving to all who repent of all their sins in Jesus’ Name. When we seek Him, He is quickly found. He is not hiding from us. That is not His character. He came to seek and to save all of humanity. Those who seek…find all that we have been looking for in this world…LIFE. Real Life.
Dear Heavenly Father,Thank you for this journey to remember daily how and why Jesus came to save us from our selfishness and sin. Thank you for sending Jesus to save us so that we can come right up to you in prayer in His Name this morning. Thank you for your plan to bring us back to you that was in your mind from the beginning of time. Thank you for seeking me.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna with Your Mug 