The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 28 December 2019 – TOPIC: DANGER LURKS: ESCAPE

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DATE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2019
(Holy Innocents’ Day)
TOPIC: DANGER LURKS: ESCAPE!
READ: MATTHEW 2:13-19 (NKJV)

13. 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.”
14. When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,
15. 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.”
16. Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
17. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
18. “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping [for] her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”
19. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

THE MESSAGE:

Today we remember the cruel slaughtering of the little boys of Bethlehem by Herod The Great which manifested his reputation as a cruel and unscrupulous despot. Because of hatred and ambition for power among families, and because of Herod’s consuming suspicion that someone might usurp his throne, he even executed one of his wives and his three oldest sons.

Thus, the act of murdering all of the young male children in the region of Bethlehem in an effort to eliminate the one whom the Magi had called King of the Jews, fits Herod’s character (verses 1-16). The commemoration of that event is called the Holy Innocents Day because of the fact of these little children did not commit anything warranting death. However, God had beforehand revealed this impending wicked act of Herod to Joseph in a dream and instructed him to take the Child (Jesus) and His mother (Mary) and escape to Egypt so as to save the child from being destroyed by the wickedness of man (Herod).

We live in a cruel and wicked world, a world that desires the destruction of the godly; a world where evil men desire to lure godly people in a most unsuspecting manner so that they will be destroyed; a world of sin where immoral living thrives. In the face of all these, the word of God enjoins us to flee for our safety. We are charged to escape from blood-thirsty and power-hungry men like Herod and seek the face of the Lord, who alone has enduring powers to save. God is constantly calling us to reject the ways and patterns of this world (Romans 12:1) to avoid being destroyed by His anger. Brethren, as Joseph heeded the instructions of God, let us be diligent in obeying God’s instructions.

PRAYER: Lord God, grant me the heart to obey Your word and stay saved always in Jesus Name, Amen.