HOST: Michael Whitworth
Today’s Reading: Matthew 2:13-23
"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.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene."
It is hard to imagine the unspeakable means by which Herod tried to destroy Jesus and the overwhelming fear and hatred that must have motivated that cruel act. But Herod was just the first in a never-ending line of people and forces that have tried to rid the world of Jesus and His influence. There will always be those who, out of fear and hatred for a God that they don’t even know, will try to dismiss, dispel, or destroy Him and His Word. But try though they may, they will never be able to rid the world of God. He has promised us that His Word will never pass away, and as long as there are faithful Christians who are living for Christ, He will continue to live on in this world and change lives for good.
What can you do today to influence someone for Christ and help further His cause?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
