Thank you for checking out today’s PoG blog.  Before getting into the scripture for today, I recommend you take a moment to quiet yourself before God.  A great question you might want to ask our heavenly Father:  Lord, what is it you would like to say to me as I read your Word?  What words would you like to speak to me today? Matthew 2:13 - 18

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.”^[a]

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.”^[b]

What great faith Joseph must have had!  I find it interesting that Joseph has a dream and is told that he should take his wife and child to Egypt.  Immediately, he wakes Mary, they pack up and they are on their way to Egypt.  No time spent notifying the relatives, having discussions with Mary or putting the house up for sale.  In fact, Joseph didn’t even roll over and catch a few extra winks before heading out in the morning.  No, in the middle of the night they pack up and get out of Dodge.  Joseph must have been so confident that he was hearing the voice of God that he dared not delay!

Have you ever had one of those times when you felt certain God was speaking to you?  I think of the way in which God moved us from St. Louis to Texas fourteen years ago.  At the time it seemed like somewhat of a risky move, but as I look back on it now I see how God was providing for us each step of the way.

As we move deeper into 2014, let’s commit, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to seeking the will of God in all aspects of life – whether it be in the “big things” like where we will live or in the smaller, more mundane, aspects of life.  God is always faithful and has promised to lead us.  Now, dear God, help us to be good listeners and followers!

Happy New Day!

Mark