From Matthew 2:13-15 / God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility – One of the errors which Believers can fall into, is the over-application of certain Biblical truths. We can distort the Word of God both by ignoring grand truths – like God’s absolute sovereignty, and by pressing such a truth to the neglect of other truths. And here at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel we see this on full display. We know from the abundant testimony of Scripture that God is sovereign over all. We know that His promises are immutable. We know since the first seedling announcement of the Gospel in Genesis 3:15, that the Messiah would come, and fulfill all His saving work without fail. None of that was ever in question. And yet might Joseph not have reasoned (as some foolishly do) “if this is God’s plan, nothing can thwart it, so what if Herod seeks to kill the child? He cannot because God’s plan cannot fail!” He’d be right, and tragically wrong. We are reminded, God works through means. So it is Joseph is divinely warned and in obedience, flees to Egypt. He still had a responsibility to act rightly and protectively as Jesus’ guardian. The Father had committed that care to him. And irrespective of God’s incontrovertible plans and purposes, Joseph needed to act appropriately. So it is that God promises to bring all His saints ultimately to the image of Christ. And yet we are called upon to fight sin and put the deeds of the flesh to death. He will complete His work in us, but we are to be careful not to neglect the assembling of our selves together with the saints. We have been reconciled to Father by faith in Christ, and yet we can grieve the Spirit and sin in disobedience – which breaches of intimacy need to be addressed in confession, prayer and repentance. We live in grace, but can presume upon it by turning grace into license. Trust Him in all of His promises Beloved, and live in real-time relationship with Him. So as Spurgeon once said: “Work as though it all depends upon you, but pray knowing it all depends upon Him. He is faithful to the end.