The Wednesday Word 12.15.2021

 

Matthew 1:18-25

New Living Translation

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!    She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Did you ever stop to wonder what would have transpired if Mary and Joseph had said no way? We know what happened to Jonah. He said, “No, I really don’t want to go to Nineveh,” and he wound up in the belly of the whale! Even though he was delivered, he still grumbled and griped. Something a lot more involved than a trip to an unfriendly sinful city was at stake for Mary and Joseph. They could have been ruined. Mary might even have been tried for adultery. How weird would it be to know you had been impregnated by supernatural means or that your son was not like any other human being ever born? Instead of following their own will, we have two amazing examples of faithfulness. Their willingness to obey God paved the way for Jesus to grow into the man he was and fulfill his mission as the Son of God. He was nurtured and protected and loved. And so are we…something to pray about.

Don’t forget to look for the Lord today. Vicki H.


                                                                                            photo by Jill Sauve on Unsplash



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