The Birth Of Christmas

WHAT JOSEPH

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11 D E CE MB E R

THE BIRTH OF CHRISTMAS Merciful God, You have given me so many inspiring heroes of the faith in Your Word. Show me what it means to submit to You, to be humble, and to know the fullness of life that comes from living for Your glory, rather than my own. Amen

MAT T HEW 1 : 1 8-25 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: his mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

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But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’

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All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).

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When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

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or most of my life, I missed the importance of Joseph in the Christmas story. But after I became a husband and father myself, I had a greater appreciation for Joseph’s tender character. Even before he knew how Mary had become pregnant, he decided that he wasn’t going to embarrass or punish her for what seemed to be infidelity (MATTHEW 1:19).

I marvel at his obedience and humility, as he not only did what the angel told him (V. 24), but also refrained from physical intimacy with Mary until after Jesus was born (V. 25).

Later we learn that Joseph was willing to flee his home to protect Jesus (2:13-23).

Imagine the pressure Joseph and Mary MATTHEW 1:19 must have felt when they learned that Jesus would be theirs to raise and nurture! Imagine the complexity and pressure of having the Son of God living with you every moment of every day; a constant call to holiness by His very presence. What a man Joseph must have been to be trusted by God for this task! What a wonderful example for us to follow, whether we’re raising our own children or those born to others who are now entrusted to us.

May God grant us the strength to be faithful like Joseph, even if we don’t fully understand God’s plan. o RANDY KILGORE

BECAUSE JOSEPH HER HUSBAND WAS FAITHFUL TO THE LAW, AND YET DID NOT WANT TO EXPOSE HER TO PUBLIC DISGRACE, HE HAD IN MIND TO DIVORCE HER QUIETLY.

Read today’s passage again. How does being “faithful to [God’s Word]” (Matthew 1:19) make us sensitive to God’s voice? Can you create some space today to sit quietly and listen to what He is saying to You through Joseph’s example?

We know, Father, that Your wisdom is far above our limited understanding. We thank You that we can rely on You to carry out Your good plans for us. You are worthy of our trust and praise.

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