Monday, December 28, 2015
THE WONDERS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE CHILD JESUS (1)
Matthew 2:13-15 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." When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 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."
CHRISTMAS--A FIRST HAND VIEW OF GOD'S LOVE
A newspaper article last Christmas was about "How Americans Imagine God." It was said that "about nine in ten Americans believe in God or some higher power." A common thread throughout people's opinions of God, it was said, is "quite simply, love." One individual said, "My God is love!"
Well, yes, based on the Bible, "God is love" (1 John 4:8). But that fact needs to be reconciled with a Texas pastor's description of God as "sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple, with angels praising Him, saying, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty'" (quoting Isaiah 6:1ff).
One of the best ways to reconcile God’s love and holiness is discovered in the Christmas miracle. God's holiness demanded redemption of and atonement for sin--which took place in space-time history in the person and work of the heaven-sent Messiah Jesus Christ who was born to "save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
Putting this another way, God sent His Son to planet Earth to give the world a first-hand view of His love, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, His providential care for all who believe in Him.
We say, "His providential care." In our text Joseph and Mary were fleeing lest Herod destroy their Child. This may cause us to question God and His ways. If there is a God who so loves us that He sent His Son to bear our infirmities and sicknesses, where is He when His own are subjected to such danger, such evil [Joseph (imprisoned), Daniel (cast to the lions), John the Baptist (beheaded), Stephen (stoned) etc.]?
More pointedly, if God is a God of love, why would the so-called "slaughter of the innocents" happen? As we explore this text, we will see the wonders of Divine Providence in the preservation of the Child Jesus, as well as in our individual lives.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room
And heav’n and nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 87:1, 4)
