SAFE WITH GOD
Opening Prayer
On this day, when we celebrate your birth, Lord Jesus, thank you for the peace and joy that is mine to enjoy.
Read MATTHEW 1:18–25
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: 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[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 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,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).
24 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.
Footnotes
- Matthew 1:18 Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this
- Matthew 1:19 Or was a righteous man and
- Matthew 1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.
- Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 7:14
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Happy Christmas!What extraordinary trust and compassion Joseph had! His world was suddenly blown apart when he discovered that his fiancée, with whom he had not had sex, was pregnant. Probably, most people in that situation would have stormed off, saying, ‘OK, that’s it! Goodbye!’, but not Joseph. Read again all that God explained to him through an angel (vv. 20, 21). The angel reassured him that God was behind all of this and had it covered. Everything was fine.
Actually, it was much more than fine, because with Jesus, God told Joseph, would come the ultimate security of salvation (v. 21) and God’s presence with us (v. 23). ‘The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood’ (John 1:14a, The Message).
There’s nothing more comforting than knowing that God is with us. Now even our sinfulness can’t separate us from him. Try to put yourself, for instance, in the position of the woman who knew she’d done wrong but demonstrated her extravagant love for Jesus (Luke 7:48–50). Notice Jesus’ response to her.
Eternal security and God’s presence: these are the environment of heaven. Enjoy the imagery of Revelation 7:9, 10 and 21:1–4.
Apply
Take time to consider and be thankful for all it means to you that God sent his Son for your redemption.
Closing prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the ultimate security of my salvation and your close presence with me— the best Christmas gifts imaginable!
Book and Author Intros
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