When you read the first few chapters of the Gospel According to Matthew you can't escape one of his major points: Jesus' life fulfills prophesy. It's inescapable.
Look at Matthew 4:12-16
"Now when He heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazereth He went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles...the people dwelling in darknesshave seen a great light,and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned."
Jesus once again fulfilled prophesy, but did you notice how? Jesus was sent into the way of a 400 year-old prophesy by a modern problem: His cousin John was arrested. When Jesus heard that John was arrested He withdrew... away from danger of arrest... to the very lands Isaiah foretold He would. Pain, suffering and negative news drove Jesus into the way He should go with the Gospel.
Even the Son of God was sent where the Father wished Him to go via suffering. How should we think we won't be?
God ordains, allows, uses, plans, causes the negative things in our lives to achieve His good. For the Christian the bad news will always ultimately be good news. For the Christian there is no seemingly broken road that isn't dripping with grace.
I meant to write this weeks ago, but I didn't. Life has been busy at the Ray house. I haven't had or made the time to sit and write and today I am glad for that.
This morning I sat with a group of men and we talked about our past, both good and bad, and how that has affected our lives. Some of the men spoke of incredibly bad circumstances and how they led them to salvation and into the life they now live. This morning I heard testimonies confirming, once again, the truth I wished to write about.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..." Genesis 50:20a
Christian, when you look at the circumstances of your life you can trust that God is loving you like He loved His Son. When you encounter the news of the day you can know that God will ultimately and is currently working our His plan for the good.
Trust in Him today.
