08 - Advent

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Christmas–Advent 2023
Day  8 | JOSEPH AND THE ANGEL
JOSEPH AND THE ANGEL
 
Matthew 1:20-21
“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’”


Most of us can remember the time when we were engaged.  It was a joyful and exciting time for Debbie and me as we planned for a wedding and starting life together.  In these modern times, there is always much planning and preparing and praying and persisting.  There is LOTS to do.

Though things were simpler back when Jesus was born, some things don’t change… and having your fiancée show up pregnant, was not an easy pill to swallow.

But Joseph truly loved Mary and didn’t want to disgrace her or cause any harm to come to her and so, he decided to divorce her quietly.

But God (and I love those two words) knew his heart and sent an angel to calm him and let him know what was going on and that he – Joseph – had a role to play in God’s BIG plan.

Joseph was a good Jewish young man – a good counterpart for Mary – and accepted the angel’s words as truth and from God… just as Mary had when the angel spoke to her.

In these verses, we learn what the name of the child shall be “Jesus,” and that the main reason for His coming was to “save His people from their sins.”
 
Being Jewish, Joseph knew about the annual sacrifices and also the prophecies about the coming Messiah.  He was as prepared as possible, and although the news was shocking, he obeyed.

Prayer: LORD, may we all be as faithful and obedient as Mary and Joseph.  Each listened to the angel and accepted what was said as truth from God. A good example for us all.  Amen.

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