SCRIPTURE
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 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." (Matthew 2:19-20)
OBSERVATION
Joseph found himself to be the adoptive father of God's son. Through the miraculous event of the incarnation, God ended up living at his house. It required a lot of moving. In order to protect Jesus from Herod he had to escape the region. He was told to go to Egypt. The instructions to go and to return began with the same command: Get up.
In order to obey God, he couldn't remain where he was. He needed to go. When children come into a family the whole dynamic changes. There are new demands on time and sacrifices to be made. The same is true with Jesus. Joseph's whole life was reoriented by God. His plans were no longer his own. His personal comfort and security took the back seat to the larger plan of God working in his life.
APPLICATION
Jesus can't be just a nice, quaint addition to my life. He reorients my whole life and yes, he will make demands on my life. Most often it is, "get up." It's easy to get comfortable, just rest a little while. If I'm not careful a little while can easily turn into a long while, and a long while can be the place I end up which is not the place I need to be. In order for God to change me I need to get up and go. Don't stay where I am but keep moving ahead. I wish it were more comfortable. But there's really no joy, growth, or maturity in being a La-Z-Boy Christian.
PRAYER
God you continually challenge me to get up and go. I love it that you go with me. You've called me to this great adventure of following Jesus. Stir me up when I get comfortable so that I continually grow to be more like Jesus.
