The first time you see your new-born child you have it.

That instinctive, automatic, protective love.

You will do anything for your child. As far as it is within your power, you won’t let anything happen
to your child.

I’m sure Mary and Joseph experienced those feelings.

But for them there was something more. Their baby was different. Conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Immanuel. He would save people from their sins.

This was no ordinary baby.

I can’t imagine how they must have thought. Sure, they had been told bits and pieces. But did they
fully understand? I’m not so sure.

So when Joseph is told by an angel: “’Take this child and his mother and escape to Egypt, for Herod is
going to search for the child to kill him’” (Matthew 2:13), what must have been going through his head?

Was it just a parent instinctively doing what’s best for their child? Or was it because Joseph knew
this baby was different? Immanuel.

I don’t know.

But I’m guessing that Joseph and Mary, as they talked about all that had happened to them, trying
as best they could to make sense of everything, they pressed on. Obediently responding in faith.
Trusting. But not totally seeing, knowing.

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” says the writer to the
Hebrews. Faith is choosing to trust God, to obey God. Faith is living without seeing what’s beyond
the next step. Faith is not having all the answers but living in light of what you do have.

Father, like Mary and Joseph, help me press on. Clinging to Your words. Trusting. Obeying. Following.

Written by Simon Lang

Follower of Jesus, husband, father, pastor of Neighbourhood Church Beckenham (a growing bunch of imperfect and ordinary people, who love God, want to get to know him better, and are seeking to be the people that God has made them to be), and part of the team at Insight for Living UK.

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