Reading
SAA Notes
The Magi visit Joseph and Mary in the house, not the stable! As David’s heir, Jesus is born in David’s town. The political forces against Jesus were overwhelming. God is not overwhelmed!
SJA Notes
* Dear God, thank You for Your word to us today. Please help us understand it.
“And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
Many strange and wondrous events and happenings surround Jesus’ birth, among them dreams.
Joseph and Mary both had dreams giving them instruction.
The wise men, they knew God’s word. They knew that Micah the prophet spoke of Bethlehem in Judah. They knew the Messiah would be born into this place.
And they too had a dream warning them of Herod.
Joseph has another dream, telling them to flee to Egypt.
God spoke clearly through dreams to those around the baby Jesus.
For us today we have the full gamut of God’s word, Genesis to Revelation.
We read in Hebrews 4,
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Jesus, the baby born in a manger where the animals rested – He is God’s word become flesh, dividing soul and spirit, discerning the true state of the heart.
As we walk through scripture together, we can keep this in mind!
* Gracious God,
Thank You for Jesus, the Saviour of the world, born into a manger.
Thank You that You sent warnings to Joseph and to the wise men through dreams – And that they heeded Your warnings.
Please help us to submit under Your will for us, Your good will, each day.
Amen.