Faith vs. Sight

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105

Tag: christmas

  • The Escape to Egypt

    Matthew 2:13-18

    God is always with us. In this case directly spoke to Joseph to instruct him on what to do next. This says so much of the faithfulness of Joseph.

    13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

    14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”[c]

    16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

    18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
        weeping and great mourning,
    Rachel weeping for her children
        and refusing to be comforted,
        because they are no more.”[d]

    Imagine the pain and torment and fear of those parents that had to witness the death of so many infants at the hands of Herod. My first question was “How could God let this happen?” The death of so many babies all at once due to Herod’s fear.
    The answers will come one day. Learning not only our own understanding is certainly necessary. Thank you God for all that you do for us daily. Thank you for the gift of your son and our salvation.

    Shalom

    DK

  • The Magi Visit the Messiah

    This amazing story of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Christmas story, heard since we were little. The millions of manger scenes all over the world this is it…

    Matthew 2:1-12

    2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

    3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

    6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
        are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
    for out of you will come a ruler
        who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”

    7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

    9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with giftsof gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

    The complexity of this truth, that Jesus was born and visited by royalty and presented wonderful gifts as just a newborn infant, is awesome. What I take from this is the confirmation by the magi through prophecy, and following the star they knew to be the Messiah’s location is so incredibly confirming. Jesus had arrived. The Savior of the World was now on Earth. It was honored and celebrated, but most importantly its was protected from Herod.

    Thank you God, for always providing for us, as you did for Jesus. I love this scene.

    Shalom

    DK

  • Joseph Accepts Jesus As His Son

    Matthew 1:18-25

    Empathy is certainly a super power. Imagine yourself in Joseph’s position when he found out about his bride to be is with child. The confusion. The hurt he must’ve felt. Anger I imagine would have entered in as well.

    18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorceher quietly.

    20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c]because he will save his people from their sins.”

    22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d](which means “God with us”).

    24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

    Jesus is on Earth now. He is in Mary’s womb. Joseph is understandably confused and does what 100% of men would do. Save her and himself from public ridicule.
    But God sends an angel in a dream and Joseph is now aware of just what is happening. The Messiah is now his son. What an amazing blessing.

    Thank you God for being so loving and understanding of what we need. You have never failed and you never will.

    Shalom

    DK