Dec 16, 2018
Jesus came to end our exile from Eden and restore to us life as it was meant to be in and under Him.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise
men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children
in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or
under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise
men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet
Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 2:13-23 ESV
Jesus came to end our exile from Eden and restore to us life as it was meant to be in and under Him.
Which means, He came to restore:
1. Our identity as God's children. How do you tend to chase worldly success or the approval of others instead of resting in Him who calls you, "beloved."
2. Our ability to change. How do you need to trust Jesus to get up and move forward in His grace?
3. Our relationships with one another. How do you need to love and or/forgive others as God has loved/forgiven you?
4. Our destiny to fill the earth with His glory. Who will you invite into this being-restored community, that they might know and enjoy Jesus, the restorer with us?