Post by Woody Williams on Dec 23, 2007 8:20:22 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Matthew 1:18-25
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Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his
mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived
together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her
husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to
public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 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.
She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save
his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had
been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did
as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but
had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he
named him Jesus.
Devotional
----------
Matthew links the birth of Jesus to a very ancient prophecy from
Isaiah. Jesus entrance into the world is the entrance of God into
human flesh. Jesus becomes Immanuel, God with us. It is an astounding
thing - God becoming human to save us from our sins. Like Joshua of
old, Jesus leads us into the promised land.
Prayer
----------------
I stand in awe before your great gift in Jesus, O Lord. Amen
----------
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his
mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived
together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her
husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to
public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 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.
She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save
his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had
been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did
as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but
had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he
named him Jesus.
Devotional
----------
Matthew links the birth of Jesus to a very ancient prophecy from
Isaiah. Jesus entrance into the world is the entrance of God into
human flesh. Jesus becomes Immanuel, God with us. It is an astounding
thing - God becoming human to save us from our sins. Like Joshua of
old, Jesus leads us into the promised land.
Prayer
----------------
I stand in awe before your great gift in Jesus, O Lord. Amen