Following after Jesus #1

As we transition out of the Advent and Christmas season, we want to keep on following after Jesus, going through the Gospels, looking at His life on earth, beginning where the Incarnation accounts end, in Matthew 2 

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
After the Magi left, Joseph again had a visitor from an angel, giving him instructions.  Joseph had learned from his earlier experience that obeying God always works out best.  A new year is no time for us to forget all the things God has taught us before, but to build on them.  Obedience is not always easy. By this time Joseph and Mary had established themselves in a home, when like Abraham, they were being called on by God to get up and go far away.  God speaks to Joseph in a way he will listen: his responsibility as a father to protect his child and his wife. God is talking to us all the time: in nature, in His Word, and for the follower of Christ, by His indwelling Holy Spirit. What we need to do is develop the art of listening to Him, and promptly obeying Him.  Joseph shows us that, and will do so again.