Idling…

So much for redlining. It seems like God has put us all in idle mode today. As much as I hate to miss gathering together on Sundays, God clearly wants us to worship Him is a little different way this weekend. Here are some thoughts that come to my mind, but I’m sure you guys can think of some creative ways to put a smile on the face of God. Click here to share your ideas or ask your questions on our facebook page.

• I know some of you will be out in the neighborhood sledding. Take the opportunity with neighbors you rarely see to invite them to join you Christmas Eve at The Summit.

• Could you bless a neighbor with a little shovel work? Maybe you could bring some cookies or soup to someone.

• I have included below a short discussion starter that goes along with our “Angels” sermon series. Use it to do a little Life Group in your home with your family.

Whatever you do this weekend, enjoy a little time idling during the snow. Use this down time to examine your schedule. Are you running at such a pace that this little bump in the road is stressing you or can you just stop and enjoy? Give God your schedule. Let Him prioritize for you.

Messenger of Protection

Matthew 13-23

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.”

The Return to Nazareth

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt  20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.  22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,  23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

1. Who did the angel visit? Why is that significant?
2. Where did Joseph take his family?
3. What might have happened if Joseph were not obedient?
4. What was Mary’s reaction?

The angel appeared several times to Joseph in this passage. God delivered a critical message to this family and He did so through the father. I don’t think this is a coincidence. Mary gets a lot of attention for being the mother of Jesus, but God works through Joseph, the father.  I believe that God desires to lead men who then in turn lead their families. Joseph is a great example for us men to follow. He stayed in contact with God. He acted in obedience, and he led his family accordingly.

Mary is also a great example. She believed that her husband was following God. Joseph must have had a track record of following God, because Mary didn’t hesitate in her obedience and submission to Joseph’s leadership.

I have to marvel at Joseph’s ability to go when God said, “Go.” In light of this idea of redlining and running with no margin, I think there is another lesson to learn from this young family. They prepared to be obedient. What if Joseph said, “I can’t go now because I have this giant mortgage and a car payment. If I go to a new town, I will lose my place on the local carpenters union and I’ll have to start over. I can’t afford to leave my $40 an hour and work in Egypt for $20. Anyway, I just signed Jesus up for t-ball. Now just isn’t a good time.”

Joseph was prepared for obedience. He didn’t see this trip to Egypt coming. It was a surprise to him. He could be obedient in a moment because of his lifestyle. Are you prepared to be obedient? If God revealed an amazing opportunity to serve, to give, to go, are you able to do it? Do you have enough margin built in to your schedule and your budget to be obedient when God calls?