Love Comes Near Bible study - December 22nd Read Matthew 2:13-15 Write Hosea 11:1 Hosea 11:1 - "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." "Of all the places that the angel could have sent them, Egypt is the safest? Egypt, with its painful memories of Israelite torment, is the place God has chosen as a refuge for his son. I like how Matthew Henry's Commentary explained it: 'God, when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve the best of purposes.' "What images or experiences does that statement bring to mind?" Well, the psychiatric ward isn't one of the happiest places to be, but I have been in one many times. But out of one visit to Jefferson Regional Medical Center's ward, I met my current girlfriend, Jamie. It's a blessing. ----- "Without hesitation, Joseph awakens Mary in the night and flees immediately with Jesus. They have likely been in Bethlehem for about two years; a young couple, trying to build a life and make a living, when God says, 'Go!' "Would you have the faith to go without hesitation as Joseph did? Have you ever witnessed (or been called to) this kind of faith in your life?" I don't remember being called to this kind of faith in my life, but I recall a conversation with Rev. Cheryl Hill where she talked about attending a talk by a minister while still a student at Central Methodist College. At this time, if I recall correctly, Cheryl didn't believe that women should be ministers, but her raising a question with the speaker and his answer really profoundly affected her, eventually leading her to change her mind so much that she went to seminary and became a minister in the United Methodist Church. "Again, Matthew connects the old and the new, in this passage and in the few to follow. He shows how Jesus life repeats certain aspects of Israel's history. Matthew points to Jesus fulfillment of the prophecy stated in Hosea 11:1. These words in Hosea were originally spoken about Israel named as God's chosen people and now point to Jesus, God's true son." ----- Love Comes Near "In our culture, and in our wealth, we can often miss the opportunity for com- plete reliance on God to meet our needs. Money serves as the god of choice for many. Even for believers, who don't stand guard against temptation. "Relocating to a new city, or a new country, is no small task. When the angel woke up Joseph in the night, he didn't give them time to prepare. Which is why the timing of the Wise Men's gift is so precise and so precious in this story. "This gift was providential and likely helped them get established in their new home. God comes near us in the details of our life. He meets our every need. "How have you seen God provide for you in unexpected ways? Have you ever been in a position of great need, or witnessed a great need, where God stepped in?" Yes. When I moved to 2554 Belle Cote Ave. from the virtual eviction from the Chaucer apartment, it came to pass that I encountered my next door neighbor one day. She was a recruiter for a consulting firm, CIBER, and we talked about my qualifications, and she invited me to come see her and interview with CIBER to see if they could find me a position. That provided me with a job at Monsanto for a few years (until I blew it by walking off the job with a "take-this-job- and-shove-it" kind of attitude). I was mostly pretty happy at Monsanto, until the last few months there, anyway.... *sigh* Anyway, I believe God stepped in and helped me find that apartment and lead me to meet with Mrs. Finch, the ap- artment manager, and lead me to get in good with her, so that she would find me to be an acceptable tenant without asking too many questions. Read Matthew 6:25-34 and Philippians 4:19 "Are you guilty of worrying about your needs being met? How can you begin to lay your worries down and 'seek first the kingdom?'" You bet I worry about needs being met. We seem to go through around $5,000 a month (much more than that when we moved). I worry about running out of money and having to depend upon the trust with Gwen at the helm, denying me money for this and for that. And then the trust running out of money. Matt- hew 6:33 says, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." I am not sure what it means, striving first for the kingdom of God. But I am trying to get closer to Jesus.