December 17
Scripture of the day: "An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,' which translated means, 'God with us.' And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus." Matthew 1:20-25
Thought of the day: The angel didn't tell Joseph that Mary was pregnant ... he told Joseph why she was pregnant. He told Joseph to name the baby Jesus because He would save His people from their sins. The unborn baby was the fulfillment of the 700 year-old prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. The name Immanuel means "God with us". The unborn baby was God in human form.
Challenge of the day: Don't let over-familiarity with the Christmas story dull your excitement as you read these verses. There is so much in those few words. The angel knew that Joseph was of the tribe of David, the kingly line of the twelve tribes of Israel. He told Joseph that God was the Child's father ... that the Child was a boy ... and that He would be the Savior. God came to earth. During this Christmas season, keep your focus. Worship the Son. Worship the Savior. Worship Jesus. Worship God who became flesh and dwelt among us.
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