Sermon Recap+ Dec 28, 2025

Life rarely unfolds the way we expect it to. Just when we think we have everything figured out, circumstances change, challenges arise, and we find ourselves needing to pivot in ways we never anticipated. The story of Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus in Matthew 2 offers profound insights into how we can navigate uncertainty while staying faithful to God's leading.

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When God Speaks Through Dreams and Circumstances

In Matthew 2:13-23, we see God communicating with Joseph through dreams not once, but multiple times. An angel appears to Joseph warning him that King Herod plans to kill the child Jesus, instructing the family to flee to Egypt immediately. This wasn't the first time God had spoken to Joseph this way - it was actually the second divine dream recorded in Matthew's Gospel.

Joseph's response is remarkable in its simplicity and obedience. He doesn't question, negotiate, or ask for an easier path. He simply gets up and goes. When God says "flee to Egypt," Joseph takes his family and leaves that very night. When God later says "return to Israel," Joseph obeys again. When warned about Herod's son Archelaus ruling in Judea, Joseph adjusts course and settles in Nazareth instead.

The Reality of Danger and Suffering

This passage doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life. King Herod, in his paranoid rage, orders the massacre of all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. This horrific event, known as the Massacre of the Innocents, reminds us that evil is real and innocent people suffer.

The scripture acknowledges this pain directly, quoting the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

Yet even in this darkness, God's purposes are being fulfilled. The family's flight to Egypt fulfills the prophecy "Out of Egypt I have called my son," and their eventual settlement in Nazareth fulfills the prediction that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene.

God Provides Direction, Not Detailed Plans

One of the most striking aspects of this story is that God doesn't give Joseph a comprehensive roadmap for the future. Instead, God provides direction one step at a time. Joseph doesn't know how long they'll be in Egypt or exactly where they'll go when they return. He simply receives guidance for the next necessary step.

This reflects an important truth about following God: we often want a detailed plan, but God typically provides direction and presence instead. We want to know the entire route before we start the journey, but God asks us to trust Him one step at a time.

The Difference Between Following a Plan and Following a Leader

There's a crucial distinction between following a plan and following a leader. Plans give us the illusion of control and certainty. Following a leader requires trust, flexibility, and faith. Joseph demonstrates what it looks like to follow the Leader rather than demanding a plan.

When we compare Joseph's response to Mary's earlier encounter with the angel, we see different but equally faithful approaches. Mary asked questions - "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" - while Joseph simply obeyed without recorded questions. Both responses show faith, but Joseph's immediate obedience highlights the power of trusting God's direction even when we don't understand the full picture.

God's Promises Are Reliable

Throughout this passage, Matthew repeatedly notes that events happened "to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet." This phrase appears three times, emphasizing that God's promises are trustworthy and will be fulfilled.

This should bring comfort to believers today. Every promise God has made will come to pass. God cannot lie - not that God chooses not to lie, but that it's impossible for God to lie. His character makes deception impossible.

What This Means for Our New Year Planning

As we enter a new year, this story challenges our approach to goal-setting and planning. While making plans isn't wrong, it's more important to know who we're following than where we think we're going.

Pray More, But Differently

Instead of lengthy, formal prayers, engage in simple conversations with God. Rather than presenting God with our plans and asking for blessing, ask God to open our eyes to see where He is going so we can follow.

Read Scripture for Relationship, Not Just Knowledge

Reading the Bible shouldn't be primarily about acquiring information but about spending time with God. If you don't understand what you're reading, find someone to read with you. The goal is relationship, not just comprehension.

Love Others Sacrificially

Perhaps the most transformative practice is choosing to use our gifts and talents to benefit others, especially those who cannot help themselves. This includes loving strangers, those we disagree with, and those we might not naturally like.

The Power of Serving Others

When we serve others, particularly those in need, it shifts our perspective dramatically. It helps us see beyond our own circumstances and concerns to God's bigger picture. Serving others is one of the most effective ways to reflect and reveal God's love in the world.

Trusting God's Presence in Uncertainty

The promise isn't that following God will eliminate challenges or make life easy. The promise is that God's presence will be with us. God doesn't promise to remove every threat but to provide guidance and strength for whatever we face.

God goes before us, walks beside us, and meets us in every moment. The promise isn't a year without challenges but the assurance that we won't face those challenges alone.

Life Application

This week, instead of focusing solely on your plans for the new year, spend time asking God where He is leading you. Make a commitment to pray more - not lengthy, formal prayers, but simple conversations with God throughout your day. Begin reading Scripture regularly, not to check a box but to spend time with God.

Most importantly, look for opportunities to love and serve others, especially those who are different from you or in need. Choose to use your gifts and talents to benefit someone who cannot repay you. This practice has the power to transform your perspective and align your heart with God's purposes.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I trying to get God to bless my plans, or am I asking God to show me His direction?

2. How can I serve someone this week who cannot do something for themselves?

3. What would it look like for me to follow God's leading even when I don't understand the full picture?

4. How can I reflect and reveal God's love through my actions, not just my words?

Remember, danger and difficulty are real, but so is God's faithfulness. Trust not just in your plans, but in the One who leads.