Thursday, December 21, 2017

IMMANUEL...GOD IS STILL WITH US


DAY 10  "JOSEPH'S DILEMMA"


Scripture: Matthew 1:18-24


The angel told Mary she would conceive a son who would rescue His people from their sins. God had already chosen His name—Jesus, which meant “salvation.” But the angel’s message did not come without consequence for Mary and Joseph. It would lead these two young people to live as fugitives for a time, fleeing from the paranoia of a ruthless and powerful Roman ruler. And on top of all that, as her belly expanded, Mary and Joseph would have to endure the suspicious looks of friends and relatives who couldn’t help questioning her purity and his character. All of this was coming, and so much more. The angel continued with his message. Mary’s boy would grow to reign over the people of God as their Savior and KingThe God who promised David so many years before that his royal line would see no end would keep that ancient covenant by bringing an heir to Israel’s throne through this young woman. “But how can this be, since I’m still a virgin?” she asked. For her to bear this son, she must conceive, and virgins don’t conceive. Everyone knows this. The angel explained that all the laws of nature are amendable by the one who wrote themMary lived in the world that was made, and the Maker of this world was the sole Author of what could and would happen here. How this would happen was incidental to the fact that it would. And God would be the one to do it. But the heavenly announcement needed something else to ensure that it would come to pass. The angel needed to pay Joseph a visit as well.





Joseph was a decent man. He didn’t want to shame Mary, though he could have and no one would have blamed him. What could he do? His bride-to-be was pregnant, and he wasn’t the father. This burden must have weighed heavily on his heart, flooding his thoughts and his dreams. One night as he tossed and turned, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. He had come to set something straight. This baby was not forming in Mary’s belly because of anything she had done. This was something God had done—something God was doing, part of the order and structure of His divine purpose. “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins”. There was a purpose in this for both Joseph and Mary. She would bear the child, he would name Him, and the child would save them from their sins. Was this what the prophet Isaiah meant when he foretold that a virgin would conceive and have a son who would be called Immanuel—God with us? This virgin Isaiah spoke of, could this really be his Son?

God gave Joseph instructions that were not easy to follow. But Joseph decided to take the courageous route of faith instead of the easier one of doubt and unbelief. He chose to follow through with his commitment to Mary, becoming her husband and Jesus' earthly father. Obedience is not always the easiest choice-it take often takes courage to do so. What choice will you make today?







Write out your thoughts



Prayer
Dear Lord, don't let us miss You this Christmas season. Help us to courageously step out into those places that will try our faith and put to death our flesh and selfish motives.  If it means making that phone call,  paying that visit, or giving away that long hoped-for and desired Christmas gift with our name on it. Help us to simplify our activities and traditions so we can focus our celebration on Your birth. Thank You for being the Prince of Peace, and I ask You for that supernatural peace to reign in our hearts. Thank You for the simple but life-changing message of Your love for us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

1 comment:

  1. I have to make the choice each and every day to trust God. HOLY Spirit always gives me the strength when I may be fearful to do so. But even more so is my act of obedience which is proof that my heart is on the same page as His.

    ReplyDelete