Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Matthew 2:23, “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.’”

Background

Did there ever come a time for Joseph that he stopped looking forward to bedtime? During the time leading up to and directly following Jesus’ birth, he must have begun to wonder what was going to be the next message that he would receive in his dreams from God. After he found out that Mary was pregnant, God told him to go ahead and marry her, for she had not been unfaithful but had received within her womb the Son of God. After the wise men visited, God told Joseph to take his family and flee to Egypt to escape the dreadful wrath of Herod’s sword. Once Herod had died, God again spoke to Joseph and directed him to pack up and move back home to Israel. But needing to fulfill the Nazarene prophecy, God once again spoke to Joseph and had him veer over to Galilee and raise his family there. Now in the midst of these unusual communications, Joseph most certainly was grasping that his new Son was no ordinary boy. God was sending Joseph direct instructions to stay on the move, all with the intent of keeping Jesus alive. And imagine the conflict of emotion when Joseph and Mary heard about the massacre back in Bethlehem that occurred shortly after their exit. It seems impossible to think that they wouldn’t realize that Jesus was the ultimate focus of all of that bloodshed. When they prayed to God, thanking Him for their child and His specialness, how their hearts must have wept over the families who suffered under Herod’s rage.

Application

The call of the follower of Jesus is no vacation. There is conflict and uncertainty and death. Fortunately for most of us, the only death that we have to experience is to the desires and wants that must be surrendered to Christ. We do have challenging issues to reconcile in light of Jesus’ calling, but ultimately it is the complete surrender and obedience to God’s directing that leads to His glorious honor. The birth of Jesus came at a high cost. And so did your salvation. So surrender your dollar store distractions, and follow the priceless calling of your Savior.

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask God for direction on what to surrender to Him. Look in your wallet or your television or your computer for some possible answers.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words