We Need to Help Others

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Matthew 2:12 NIV)

The Magi had fulfilled their part of God’s plan.  The left their homes, travelled a long distance, and worshiped the newborn king of the Jews.  Now, however, they would finish their part with one final act: protecting the child.  They left town in a different way because God was leading them every step in their walk.  The went back home to the East without telling Herod the location of the child.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." (Matthew 2:13 NIV)

Joseph would participate in God’s plan in much the same way.  We really don’t know a lot about Joseph.  Scripture tells us that he was in the line of David, that he went through with the marriage to Mary, and, as we see here, that he protected his adopted-son, Jesus.

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." (Matthew 2:14-15 NIV)

Joseph’s faithfulness to his part of God’s plan fulfilled yet another prophecy about the coming Messiah.  I don’t know if Joesph saw how this fulfilled Scripture or not.  We do know, however, that his faithfulness saved his newborn son.  He helped Jesus live so that Jesus would help us live.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. (Proverbs 23:19-21 NIV)

God not only desighed us to walk with Him.  He designed us to empower others as well.  Children are given to parents as a gift from God.  Our primary responsibility before God is to teach our children how to walk with God.  We do this through our words, to be sure.  But our most effective teaching method is to walk with God ourselves.  More is caught (from our model) than taught (through our words).

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it-- wisdom, instruction and insight as well. The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! (Proverbs 23:22-25 NIV)

How about you?  Do you walk together with God?  Do your actions match your words?  Do they both match God’s Word?  Does your model help others walk with God?