Christmas Dreams (Mt. 1:18-2:23)

Read Matthew 1:18-2:23.

Five dreams are mentioned.  We're not given every detail of each dream, but we are given the gist.

Since God never changes, He is still a Communicator.  He wants to administrate the affairs of your life, and He wants to communicate direction.  In His own time He will speak to you about the what, how, who, when, where, and why.  He might or might not use a dream, but He will communicate.

When He speaks, obey quickly.  Obedience leaves the communication channel open and clear.

Don't Look Back (Lu. 9:62)

Read Luke 9:62.

Read the following verses as supplementary material to today's thought:  Phil. 3:13; 1 Kin. 19:20; Psa. 78:8-9; 2 Tim. 4:10; Heb. 10:38; 2 Pet. 2:20-22.

Concentration and determination are needed to follow Jesus.  Don't make a good start and then fizzle out.  Stay with Him!  Focus and direction are important.  Expect the world (behind you) to continue its distraction, calling and tempting you.  Today's verse calls for a relentless, all-out pursuit of Jesus. The world has nothing for you.  Look to Jesus (Heb 12:2a); don't look back (Lu. 17:32).

1. You cannot look two directions at once.  Beware cross-eyed Christianity!
2. Direction determines destination.
3. Focus determines value, commitment and seriousness.
4. Following Jesus is not for the faint or lazy.  There is plowing to be done!  Get to it and stay with it.

Observations About God's Will

1. What God permits you to endure in the process is hard to explain sometimes.
2. God is always on time -- His time, not yours -- though never in a hurry.
3. God's rationale and methodology might seem counter-intuitive.
• God chose Ephraim over Manasseh, though Ephraim wasn't the first born.
• God promised a son to Abraham.  Abraham was quite old when this promise was fulfilled.
4. God's so-called silence, that long span when it appears nothing is happening, doesn't mean He is displeased or disinterested.
5. The will of God often involves embracing the lesser opportunity (as man would call it).
6. The will of God can be stalled because of unbelief or disobedience (Num. ch. 13 & 14).
7. The will of God never manifests itself in an atmosphere of pride.