Due to uncertain road conditions, we won’t meet together for worship tomorrow. However, I want to encourage you to watch one of our services through our website or YouTube. In addition, I’ve prepared a short prayer and devotion you can use alone or with your family. Stay safe! We look forward to seeing you next Sunday.
Matthew 2:19–23
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, that he would be called a Nazarene.
I keep thinking about all of God’s people who had to return to daily life after the amazing events surrounding the birth of the Messiah. Life was different. The main difference was that they were now walking a holy path, on holy ground. From the moment God told Moses to remove his shoes to the hustle and bustle of Bethlehem, a holy plan was given new fuel. All ground from then to now is holy. They were moving with a new purpose.
Guess what? We still are.
Nothing is required of you except a willingness to be used by God. You don’t need money. You don’t need to be a great speaker. You don’t need to have the finest clothes. You don’t even need shoes! As a matter of fact, God says, “Get rid of those shoes!” God is saying, “Just stand still, because I am going to use you.” The baby in the manger is all grown up, and He has given us a holy existence. All we need to do is stay faithful and tell the world. Life is mostly mundane. But miracles follow the Christ child.
God has sent you here, and He is ready to do amazing things through you—if you’ll only believe who you are in Him.
You know, rules and regulations can sometimes hinder progress. Now, I’m not speaking against order—but sometimes we as a church tend to hold back. Maybe the idea that this is holy ground paralyzes us.
Overall, Grace Resurrection is an example of the power of God—the power of the Holy Spirit moving through a people who are answering a calling. When we are given a calling, it’s hard to say “yes.”
We sometimes don’t believe we are equipped. And you know what? We probably aren’t. But God will equip us when we say “yes.” We must approach the throne of God in our bare feet, knowing that He is going to lift us and move us to action. As we return to our normal routines, know that God will walk with you—and that is, well, extraordinary.
Amen.
~James