In our culture, Christmas time is associated with family, presents, giving, hospitality, and seasonal warmth.  However, during that first Christmas season there was a threatening charge laid against Christ and His family.  Herod had issued a murderous decree to have all children, two years and under, executed in the surrounding areas of Jerusalem.

     In the midst of such horrific violence, the message of Christmas sounded forth: fear not.  God warned Joseph in a dream to depart from Nazareth and into Egypt for the safety and protection of the newly-born Messiah.

     God was for them…guiding them, guarding them, keeping them, and fulfilling His promise of protection.  He does the same today for those who carry the hope of Jesus Christ.

God is not only in us, He is not only with us, but He is for us defending His cause in the world.  He never said we would be exempt from the violent, antagonistic culture, but He did promise to lead, guide, and direct us for His name’s sake.  As the apostle Paul said, “If God be for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).