Bellevue Chapel

"But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
    and the staff for his shoulder,
    the rod of his oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
    and every garment rolled in blood
    will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."
- Isaiah 9:1-7
 

The first verse of this passage must sound incredible to many as we approach the end of 2022: ‘there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress’. There appears no end in sight to the war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis, economic and political turmoil: so how will 2023 be gloom-free? 

And yet v2 contains the awe-inspiring, spine-tingling words: ‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light’. 
 

The prophet is pointing to the first Christmas – and beyond to the death and resurrection of our Saviour and the coming of the Holy Spirit. That is our marvellous hope: beyond the brokenness of this world we will spend eternity with God because of the miracle of the virgin birth. 
 

But the Great Light is not only for heaven. Each one of us can walk in it here and now, every day. Of course, there will be difficulties and problems in the world around us and in our own lives. Yet, because of that first Christmas, God can enable us to see and do things differently here on earth. We can all pray for each other in Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:16: ‘I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being’. 

We cannot be glib or complacent about the issues we and others face; but we can, through our lives, enable the Great Light to shine on them.

- Ian Walford

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
    that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
    double for all her sins.

A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

- Isaiah 40:1 - 5

In our comfortable, fast-paced, instant world, we rarely wait on anything. A family meal can be delivered to our door within an hour. An Amazon purchase can be bought and delivered on the same day. On a special occasion, they’ll gift wrap it for you. Utility bills can be paid at the touch of a button without venturing into fresh air. Meals and coffees are consumed without leaving vehicles at drive-thru’s. As helpful as this can sometimes be, how much of this immediate world is playing into our bubble-wrapped lives?

Around 700 years before Christ, in Isaiah’s era, nothing was comfortable or fast-paced. In fact, life was brutal for God’s people. It had been a long, hard slog as they lived as exiles under God’s judgment. Yet the tide turns in chapter 40 as the Lord, through Isaiah, promises to comfort His people. Not with a Dominos, Starbucks or gift-wrapped Ferrero Rocher, but with Himself. Centuries later the words of Isaiah would spring to life again. As John the Baptist, cries ‘prepare the way of the Lord...(v3).’ With the coming of the Lamb, God comforts His people yet again with Himself as ‘the glory of the Lord shall be revealed...(v5).’ 

This Saviour didn’t come to be comfortably bubble-wrapped. He came to die the most brutal, barbaric death. Why? To appease God’s judgment for us. The greatest comfort of all is knowing our sin has been defeated. The greatest comfort of all is knowing Christ the King. As we approach Christmas, let’s not forget where our true comfort lies. It lies in the person of Christ. He left His crown in heaven, to be born in Bethlehem’s cradle, to die on Jerusalem’s cross. He lived to die for us.

- Paul McLoughlan

"Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;
    siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the judge of Israel
    on the cheek.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
    when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
    to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be their peace."
- Micah 1: 1 - 5

If one was to use our contemporary language one would surmise that when Micah wrote this Israel was not in a good place (v 1, 3). In recent years, we have faced material disruption to our lives and at times from a variety of sources we were told that ‘things will get better’. This was perhaps sometimes expressed more in optimistic hope than with certainty but in today’s passage we find a prophetic and certain promise not of better times but great times of Blessing. For sure, the people of Israel needed some good news, a lift, an encouragement and perhaps as we approach Christmas we share similar feelings and needs.

A ruler (the Messiah) is promised although it would be another 800 years or so before Jesus Christ is born. (Refer to Matthew 2). What then is the significance for us of this prophecy? In verse 4 Micah announces that the Messiah will bring hope, security and peace to not only the troubled nation of Israel but to all who put their trust in Him, ‘He will stand and shepherd His flock’ (N.I.V.) with all the strength and majesty of God. Perhaps take time now to pause and re-read verse 4 and contemplate its meaning and significance for you.

So, even when life and times may not be straightforward may we be encouraged by these powerful and assuring words from Micah which reflect God’s great love and concern for each of us.

Better times indeed...great ones in fact for both today and for the future!

- Iain & Dorothy Liddell

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."
- Colossians 1:15 - 23

Jesus Christ is the ‘image of the invisible God’ (v15), in whom the ‘fullness of God was pleased to dwell’ (v19). Wrap your mind around this mystery: other than Mary conceiving of the Holy Spirit—that is, He supernaturally seeded her egg—we have no reason to believe the process of Christ’s development was any different to that of normal human gestation. So, when Mary’s egg was fertilised, the fullness of God was present in a zygote—a single-celled embryo. Can you fathom such humility? God, the Creator of all things, seen and unseen (v16), humbled Himself to the extent that He entered into His own creation as a single cell. An organism so small, the naked human eye cannot even perceive it. Yet, that miraculous embryo, so fragile, so vulnerable, was – somehow - simultaneously sustained and protected by the same sovereign God who holds all things together (v17).

To what end? To develop, be born, grow and live in perfect righteousness; yet, to suffer on a cross for the sins of the world; to make peace between God and humanity through His sacrificial and
substitutionary death; to present you, who were once hostile and separated from God through evil deeds, as holy, blameless, and above reproach before Him, through faith (20-23). Can you grasp the depths of such mercy? As we contemplate these things over this festive period, let us join the worshipful shepherds in glorifying and praising God for this unfathomable gift of love He has bestowed upon us (Lk 2:20).

- Ryan & Clare McKernan

From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SumaQ045baQ)

Colossians Hymn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZBOSfiH8Rk)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men."
- John 1: 1 - 4

Rather than telling us about shepherds, stars, and magi, John takes us back to the real beginning of the story of Jesus’ birth: creation. God lavishly and lovingly made our world and us in it to share the joy, peace, and covenant community He has enjoyed for eternity. And He created all things through His Word. He spoke and it was.

Just as in creation, our Saviour, Jesus is that Word. Fully God yet taking on the form of man, this Word again accomplishes the Father’s will. Jesus then isn’t just a historical figure, born in the most humble of circumstances, worthy of our respect. He is the eternal Son of God to be worshipped. Indeed, the life that His birth, death, and resurrection give, is greater than the first breath of Genesis 1. The ‘Light of men’ is greater than the first light created, revealing to us the immortal, invisible God only wise.

So, from the very beginning, at the dawn of time, Bethlehem and Golgotha were already in view. Amazing love, how can it be, that the One through whom all things were made should be born and die for me!

- The Hofstra Family

"In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
- Luke 1: 5 - 25

‘Your prayer has been answered.’ Who wouldn’t like to hear those words?!

Here is an incredible exchange between an angel and a priest. The first paragraph introduces us to Zechariah and Elizabeth, described as ‘righteous before God, walking blamelessly...’ in God’s commandments. This was a God-fearing couple, faithful to the Lord and who respected His laws. But... they were old and without child. In an ‘honour/shame’ culture, this was significant for childlessness was seen as a disgrace (v.25).

They must have prayed a long time for a child, but their prayers remained unanswered. Until now.

The angel seeing Zechariah’s fear says, ‘Do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son’ (v.13). Humanly speaking, this is simply impossible, but God is the God of the impossible! By His power, even a virgin girl will bear a son.

God can surprise us. We may have to wait for an answer, like Zechariah and Elizabeth, but until then, we are asked to remain faithful. Waiting for God amidst heartache, pain or disappointment is difficult. At times, God doesn’t even answer in the way we’d hoped or imagined. But in truth, our cries are never left unheard; God is attentive to the prayers of the righteous (1 Peter 3.12).

How has God shown His faithfulness to you over the years? Let’s take time now to remember and renew our trust in the God of the impossible. When we’re tempted to despair, let’s ask for the Spirit’s help to remain faithful in our waiting. Our God never fails!

- Susan Gnadou Zabo

"In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
- Luke 1: 39 - 45

There is nothing like the news of a baby to warm the soul, and give a sense of joy and hope for the future.

Here are two ordinary women, both pregnant, both offering praise to God under two very different circumstances. Elizabeth, beyond childbearing age, six months pregnant. Mary a young unmarried teenager, unexpectantly pregnant. Both subject to social stigma. Both would struggle to explain their expectant state to society.

What was Mary thinking as she ‘hurried’ to Elizabeth. Her mind must have been racing after her encounter with Gabriel. Was she going to support Elizabeth or was she going to check that Gabriel’s message was true? Had she told Joseph about her pregnancy and angelic encounter before she left?
How would she tell the older woman about her pregnancy? How would Elizabeth react?
So many questions that we don’t know the answers to!

But look at what we do see. Elizabeth greets Mary with such love and blessing which must have been a huge relief! There were no hushed voices of shame – Elizabeth was practically shouting the Good News! The Holy Spirit was at work in Elizabeth to prepare her for this encounter. Those months of seclusion had not been wasted as Elizabeth had pondered on God’s plan.

This passage is a lovely glimpse into the private encounter of these two ordinary, but special women sharing their calling by God for their roles in His great salvation plan.

Our souls too are warmed as we see the joy and hope for the future in this story.

- Christine Fairfield

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
- Luke 1: 57 - 66

This part of the Christmas story is not often told in the traditional Christmas story that we learn about as children. It focuses on the birth of John the Baptist, who was born a few months before Jesus.

John’s parents were Zechariah and Elizabeth. They were old, but they wanted a baby. They found out that the baby was coming because the Angel Gabriel visited Zechariah and told him the good news. The Angel also said that the baby should be called John. Zechariah was delighted but he doubted that the baby would ever come as he and Elizabeth were old. At that point, the angel said that he would lose his voice until all this came true as he hadn’t believed God’s words.

Time passed and the baby was born, and all that time Zechariah never spoke a word. The wider family all wanted to call the baby Zechariah, but Elizabeth and Zechariah said he needed to be named John, because of what God said. The Bible says that immediately Zechariah could speak again. The first thing he did when he got his voice back was praise God.

Something that this story shows is that it is important to believe God’s word and do what He says even when it sounds like it won’t happen. It also shows we can trust God for things to come and when He says He will do something, then He will do it.

- Harry Campbell

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
   and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).  When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
- Matthew 1:18 - 25

As we’ve learnt here in Uganda, different cultures have very different expectations of engagement and marriage. The custom at the time of Mary and Joseph was that a betrothal was a legally binding commitment
between the couple. We can imagine Joseph’s emotional turmoil as he grapples with how to break off the engagement quietly (divorce). It would be the sort of situation that would play constantly on his mind, and cause him to lose sleep. However, we read in the passage how God speaks
to Joseph in a dream, and reassures him and guides him with his next steps.

Verse 23 tells us that Mary’s baby is to be named ‘Immanuel’, meaning ‘God with us’. We can see the reality of God being ‘Immanuel’ with Joseph in this passage - how He speaks to him personally, how He gives him light at the end of his tunnel, and how He brings hope into a complex situation.

Like Joseph, we all know how circumstances can bring anxiety and make us stressed; our minds are not at rest. These verses are a comforting reminder that whatever situation we find ourselves in this Advent, God wants to meet us in our turmoil, speak to us personally and guide us. God is not ‘Immanuel’ at a distance, but knows me intimately, even my anxious thoughts.

May each of us experience God’s Peace on Earth this Christmastime.

- David & Emma Craig

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest,
  and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."
- Luke 2:8-20

‘And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!’ (Luke 2:13-14)

Peace on earth...
The angelic choir sings the first Christmas psalm: such important words.

Peace on earth...
But we are all now witnesses of the war in my country, in my Ukraine. Thousands of deaths, thousands of crippled destinies ... And at this time, more than ever, we want peace on earth. What kind of world did the angels sing about and is there such a world on earth?

Christmas is not only a celebration of the birth of Jesus, it is a celebration of the great sacrifice of the Father, His great love for all people. This little boy, who now lies in his mother’s arms and about whom the angels sing, will die on the cross for all people in a few years. And because of this, many, many people can be saved from eternal punishment for their sins. 

If they asked me whether I would die for someone, I would hesitate with the answer: maybe yes, maybe no, depending on the person. If I were asked if I’d give my only son to die for someone, I would answer immediately and without hesitation - no. But, God loves people so much that He gave His Son for me and for you, that we might have life, that we might have peace.

The peace that the angels sang about, this peace in Jesus, is in every heart that Jesus lives in! And for me it is a great blessing when there is a storm around me and a lot of incomprehensible things, but I have the One who helps me in my life, gives me peace and hope!

So, for me today, the angels’ words sound with special power: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!

- Tanya Bondarenko

... « І раптово з’явилося З Ангелом численне воїнство небесне, щославить Бога і волає: Слава у вишніх Богові, і на землі мир, у людях благовоління!»

«І ось раптом з’явилася з Анголом сила велика небесного війська, що Бога хвалили й казали: Слава Богу на висоті, і на землі мир, у людях добра воля!» (Від Луки 2:13–14)

І на землі мир...
Ангельський хор співає перший різдвяний псалом: такі важливі слова.

І на землі мир...
Але всі ми зараз свідки війни у моїй країні, у моїй Україні. Тисячі смертей, тисячі скалічених доль... І в цей час як ніколи хочеться миру на землі. Про який же мир співали Ангели і чи є цей мир на землі?

Різдво це не лише свято народження Ісуса, це свято великої жертви Отця, його великої любові до нас, людей. Цей маленький хлопчик, який зараз лежить на руках мами і про який співають Ангели, за кілька років помре на хресті за всіх людей. І завдяки цьому багато людей зможуть бути врятованими від вічного покарання за їхні гріхи.

Якби мене запитали, чи змогла б я померти за когось із людей, я б вагалася з відповіддю: можливо так, можливо ні, дивлячись за кого, хороша це людина чи ні... Якби мене запитали, чи віддала б я свого єдиного сина на смерть заради когось, я б відповіла відразу і без вагань – ні. Але Бог так сильно любить нас людей, що віддав Свого Сина заради мене і тебе, щоб ми мали життя вічне, щоб ми мали мир.

Мир, про який співали Ангели, цей мир в Ісусі, цей мир у кожному серці, в якому живе Ісус! І для мене це велике благословення, коли навколо мене шторм і багато незрозумілого, але в мене є Той, Хто допомагає мені іти життєвим шляхом, дарує мир і надію!

Тому для мене сьогодні слова пісні Ангелів звучать із особливою силою: Слава Богу на висоті, і на землі мир, у людях добра воля!

Тетяна Бонд

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.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 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.”

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. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

“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.”
- Matthew 2:13 - 18

In my Bible these verses are divided into two sections. In vv13-15 we read about Joseph escaping with Mary and Jesus to Egypt and in vv16- 18 we find out why they had to escape from Herod’s clutches. It is an instant reminder that the Christmas story is not all joy and laughter. There is sadness and suffering as well. It is probably the most dramatic event in the life of the infant Jesus with three main characters each playing a part. 

Joseph Listens
We don’t often think of Jesus being a refugee, but that’s what He became when only a few months old. If Joseph hadn’t been open to God’s voice and leading, he would never have become aware of the great danger the new-born Christ was in. Sometimes the good news God intends has to be heard first as bad news, to make us sit up and take notice.

Herod Acts
Bethlehem in those days did not have a very large population, so the total number of infants killed would not have been great - but the slaughter of even one child is one too many. In today’s world there are still plenty of people like Herod out to destroy the vulnerable in society. And behind it all is an enemy wanting the destruction of everything good in life: especially our faith relationship with God.

God Speaks
God isn’t just in the business of fixing problems. He knows and cares about everything going on in His world. The awful events recorded here were all known by Him in advance. The prophets Hosea (11:1) and Jeremiah (31:15) had predicted them centuries before. And God still speaks, so this Christmas be like Joseph and listen for His voice.

Don’t let Christmas pass without thinking and praying about
• Refugees escaping from tyranny
• Families who have lost children
• People out to destroy all that Jesus stands for
• Powerful people who threaten the vulnerable

- Robert Murray

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 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.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 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. 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: 19 - 23

No satnav needed here! From Nazareth- Bethlehem- Egypt- Nazareth. Some journey! Our passage today tells the story of the last leg of the journey. Joseph has four dreams in the Christmas story as told by Matthew. Two come in these few verses.

Joseph’s directions came from God through these dreams. Joseph got the message, got up and obeyed - no delays. By his obedience he played his part in God’s amazing plan of salvation.

Was this the way God always spoke to Joseph? We don’t know but one thing is sure, Joseph had no doubt his directions came from God.

We worship the same God who wants to direct our paths this Christmas but we must be able to recognise His voice as Joseph did.

These verses may help us.

‘Seek His will in all you do and
He will show you which path to take.’ (Proverbs 3: 6 NLT)

‘Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.’ (Psalm 119: 105)

- Wilma Armstrong