Decisions and Discernment

Today is day 17 of our 40 day devotional journey to Easter. I'm glad you're here!

Day 17

Our Bible reading for today is Matthew 2: 13 - 15 ...

After they were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and His mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt. 15 He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called My Son.

In this passage, which occurs shortly after the wise men have visited the infant Jesus, God sent His messenger to warn Joseph to leave Bethlehem, before danger arrived (see Matthew 2: 1 - 12).

At this point, Joseph had a decision to make. Do I listen to the messenger of God and leave, or do I stay and risk losing my son? Do I play it safe where I am, where I know the people and know the language and the culture? Or do I risk going to an unknown land with my wife and my toddler son?

We know that Joseph chose to listen to the message he received in his dream, and left the environment that would soon become dangerous for his family, to make a home for them in Egypt, where they waited until God told him it was safe to return (see Matthew 2: 19 - 23).

We all have to make decisions in life. Sometimes the decision is clear and easy to make, but other times, the decision is very complex.

Thankfully, as Believers, we have something that others don't have - we have an omnipotent, all-powerful God. He sees everything and knows the beginning from the end. There are no surprises to Him and when we draw closer to Him through prayer, worship, and time in the Word, He protects and guides us more and more clearly.

If you are facing a difficult decision right now - whether you should study further, take a new job, move your child to a different school, whether you should renew your lease on your house - make sure you check in with God. Take all the time He needs to ask Him for strategy and direction. Then make sure to get still and listen.

Pausing to wait for the Lord's direction could be the difference of being in His will, or praying later for God to redeem lost time. He will be with you either way, but if He is willing to lead and guide you, like He did Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, why don’t you just let Him, and take the burden of making that choice off of your own shoulders?

Photo credit: Harvest Community Church