Directed (ADVENT-URE DAY 16) (12/16)

We are now on Day 16 of our 25-day Faith Radio Christmas Advent-ure, and we are emphasizing the characters in the Christmas narrative, the players in a grand and glorious play that we call, "The Story For the Ages."  

No doubt, the time surrounding the birth of Jesus was a time of enhanced spiritual activity. We see quite a collection of supernatural beings - angels - who proclaim the truth and direction of the Lord.  Certainly there are Gabriel's pronouncements in Luke chapter 1 to the visit of someone called "the angel of the Lord" in Matthew 1 to Joseph.  There is also the heavenly host found in Luke 2.  And, as we find in Matthew 2, angels came as messengers to direct Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to Egypt to escape brutal Herod's extermination of children and to tell them when to return.  

We find today's theme Scripture passage in Matthew chapter 1, which says:
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. ”

Our principle that we learn from the angelic activity around the birth of Jesus is that God desires to provide His direction.  

Just as in the time surrounding the birth of Jesus, children are in danger, and it is incumbent upon believers who follow Christ to stand with those who help to protect and even rescue children in difficult situations.  In a recent article at The Daily Citizen from Focus on the Family by Zachary Mettler said regarding a recent rescue by Florida officials of over 100 children who had been trafficked:

We give thanks for the men and women of law enforcement who face many dangers in upholding the law and protecting the most vulnerable among us. We know they are God’s instruments of justice and righteousness (Rom. 13:3-4).

“This operation reflects the power of strong partnerships and a shared commitment under Governor DeSantis’ leadership to protect Florida’s children,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Deputy Commissioner Vaden Pollard.

“By gathering critical intelligence, pursuing every lead, and working together with our federal, state, and local partners, we achieved a unified mission and delivered meaningful results — 122 children and youth are now safe, and that is a victory for our entire state.”

The article noted: "Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the 'historic' recovery of over 100 children in a statewide rescue operation titled 'Operation Home for the Holidays.'...The U.S. Marshals Service-led initiative located or safely recovered 122 children, which the attorney general’s office said makes it 'one of the largest child-recovery operations in American history.'"  Mettler, writing for The Daily Citizen, also said:

Uthmeier asked for prayers for the recovered children. Local officials will help “find them homes where they are loved, where they are protected, where they will be empowered to lead successful lives,” he said.

“We’re going to get them on the road to recovery.”

In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (ESV).

Likewise, Matthew 18:6 reads, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” (ESV).

Over the past 2,000 years, the Christian religion has done more than any other faith, ideology or institution in human history to bestow dignity and value upon the most vulnerable – especially women and children.

Uthmeier has become quite a champion for religious freedom.  In fact, since the first of November, he has charged three different entities for taking part in which he termed, "religious discrimination."  The Tallahassee Democrat reported the the AG took Microsoft to task for not allowing Christian non-profit organizations to receive a non-profit discount, chiding the American Bar Association for saying a faith-based law school did not meet its standards for "anti-discrimination and equal opportunity," and saying that the Pensacola City Council could cancel a drag-queen show.

We must each consider how we can speak up for the vulnerable.  And, we can depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us in that quest.  In his article, Zachary Mettler quoted from John Stonestreet, who said in a Breakpoint commentary: "Like the early Christians, our faithfulness requires being counter-cultural in our attitudes about sex and children."

Just as God sent His angels to provide direction by proclaiming His message, we have a responsibility to obey the Lord in speaking His truth.  And, we can trust the Lord to give us the boldness to speak up and the words that we can say.  Jesus has provided His righteousness to those who have called upon Him and been born-again, and we can be instruments of righteousness, capable representatives of the Lord to speak His truth, just as the Church has been faithful throughout its history, as that Daily Citizen piece relates.