Matthew 2:12-15 "And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 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. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son." Many times in life, we are warned of God. Thayer’s Greek definitions interprets “warned of God” as meaning “to give divine command or admonition.” Sometimes that warning comes from the Scriptures. Other times, it may come as that still, small voice that whispers in our hearts to do (or not do) a thing, or, as in ...
Ephesians 1:1-2 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: (2) Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." I could not get the book of Ephesians out of my thoughts as I was trying to seek God's will concerning my devotions after completing the Psalms. I kept going back and forth with other thoughts until I read these first two verses this morning. The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to begin this book in a manner that gives the ultimate example of God's grace and mercy. He writes concerning himself and the absolute change that God makes in the hearts and minds of His people. I hope to be able to concisely say what I see in these verses. We know the person Saul used to be, but now He speaks in terms of God's grace, mercy, love, and peace. When he was on the road to Damascus, Saul was in no way seeking the peace of the people who wer...