Focus
Relax and listen. Consciously prepare to hear God’s Word. Clear your mind of the worries and tasks that lie before you. Open your heart and allow it to refresh.
Read
20 But just when he had resolved to do 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 as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
Reflect
One Sunday morning during Advent as I was visiting with a congregant at the entrance of the church a man slipped past us with a polite “excuse me” as he exited. I saw him out of the corner of my eye taking a few steps, stopping suddenly, then returning to us. He looked directly at me and asked, “Pastor, can I ask you a question?”
Later as I reflected on the day and the first chapter of Matthew covered in the service the What ifs visited me once again:
- What if Mary and Joseph hadn’t obeyed God?
- What if Joseph would have refused to take Mary as his wife and he did what he first planned to do and quietly divorced her?
- How would Mary have ever made her way to Bethlehem for the birth of her son so that the prophecy of Micah 5:2 could be fulfilled?
As one of my former professors used to say, “Just a question!”
Pray
We thank you God for providing us the opportunities of experiencing Mary and Joseph in our own lives. The wonder, the amazement, the opportunity of experiencing the birth of Jesus through them is the most amazing journey of all. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Go with God.
