by Linda Veath
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.
~ Matthew 2:13 KJV
Christmas is over with for another year. At least the “official” Christmas celebrations and traditions. Special family gatherings have ceased. Christmas presents have been given, received and used or returned. Wrapping paper disposed of. Thank you notes duly written. Radio and TV stations returned to regular programming. Christmas decorations taken down and stored away.
What remains are the memories of the joy we received in all of these activities. But even the memories slowly fade, just as the flowers of the field. They are temporary at best.
Thankfully, there is one thing from Christmas that will not fade away. One thing that we can take with us. And that is Jesus.
The question is have we taken Him with us into the New Year? Or have we left Him in the manger, packed away with the Christmas decorations until next year’s celebration?
Joseph and Mary took Jesus and fled from a king intent on killing Him, finding sanctuary in Egypt. We aren’t faced with that. But as we take Jesus with us, we can flee from worry and anxiety. From this world’s uncertainty and stress. From heartache and pain. From all the fears that this New Year may throw our way.
Fleeing with Jesus may not stop bad things from happening in our lives. But when we flee with Him, we can leave the worry, the uncertainty, the fear behind, and flee into His peace! Into His eternal refuge.
So, throughout this New Year and all our years to come, may we take Jesus with us, resting peacefully in the promise that He is our personal Savior and our eternal possession. God’s Christmas gift that doesn’t fade away.
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