Podcast (daily-devotion): Play in new window | Download | Embed
[expand title=”Devotion Text”]Matthew 1:19-21
And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Can you even imagine the emotions churning in Joseph’s heart and mind? He found out his fiancé was pregnant, and she swore that she had not been with another man. Even though Joseph was devastated, he was ”unwilling to put her to shame.” His plan was to simply sign the necessary legal papers and let her go her way. Then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and confirmed what Mary had asserted. So, he took Mary to be his wife.
Never forget that the essential doctrine of the virgin birth was lived out in ridicule and scorn, by a young man and woman seen by others as having conceived out of wedlock. There was no way for them to explain what they could not understand. Without visits from an angel, who would ever believe the story? Jesus would grow up known as an illegitimate child. The Jews reminded him of this with some cheap shots later in his ministry (see John 8:39-41).
Amazing, isn’t it? Jesus was born to unmarried parents and carried that stigma with him for the rest of his life. Jesus was stripped of all royal privileges, all the way to the cross. Nate Saint, who gave his life for Christ as a missionary, said it this way: “If we could only grasp the significance of the Incarnation, the word sacrifice would disappear from our vocabulary.”
Talking to God
Father, I cannot even grasp the sacrifice of Jesus. From his birth to his death, he demonstrated ultimate humility. Give me the strength to follow his example. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
For parents: Talk to your children about the messiness that surrounded the first Christmas. Remind them of Jesus’ great sacrifice when he became man. Please share your Christmas stories with us at prayer@ronmoore.org.
[/expand]
Today on The Journey Broadcast:
0 Comments