After Herod had died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.”
Angel of the Lord, Matthew 2:19-20
A wise man once said, “God’s Word tends to outlive its pallbearers.” A true work of God will outlive all its enemies. God was determined to provide a way to bring lost and hurting people into His family. Even though the world was determined to reject and destroy God’s wonderful gift, God would have His way.
This is the depth of God’s love for us. What will separate us from the love of God? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger? None of these things can defeat God’s plan. Neither can death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our hope for you today is that you live in the confidence that what God has promised He will do!
Bonus Content:
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote “I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day” with a melancholy heart. His son had joined the Union army and left for war without even informing his father. He was tragically wounded in the conflict. His wife had died in a fire which also severely burned him. The “Peace on Earth” message felt hollow.
Joseph must have felt similar as he saw the horror that Herod had unleashed upon the children of Bethlehem in an attempt to kill Jesus. The fourth verse of hope brings us out of our melancholy and infinite sadness. Yes this world is broken but God is not dead, nor doth He sleep! The wrong will fail, the right prevail!
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace of earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
With much love,
The Downings
Thanks for sharing