WEDNESDAY 10 : MARRED

[cimi]

December 10
Wednesday


MARRED

READ:
Matthew 1:18-25
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She will bring forth a
Son, and you shall call
His name Jesus, for He
will save His people
from their sins.
__Matthew 1:21
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During an all-night festival in Paris, five young people, apparently drunk, broke into the Orsay Museum and left a 4-inch gash in a priceless painting by Claude Monet. Culture Minister Christine Albanel said the painting could be restored, but she was deeply disturbed at the damage done "a purely criminal act."

One news headline read: "Monet Masterpiece Marred." To mar is to injure or damage; to spoil, disfigure, or impair. It's an apt description of sin's effect on us. We know well the results of our own choices made in ignorance or defiance of God.

As we approach Christmas, it's good to remember why Jesus was born. The Son of God did not come to establish a nostalgic, family-oriented, commercially successful holiday. The angel told Joseph: "[Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shalll call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).

Christmas began with a present from God to His sin-damaged world: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). turning away from him, can be restored when we give our hearts to Christ. __David McCasland
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``````````````````He came into this world a babe,`````````````````
```````````````This world that He Himself had made;```````````````
`````````````````He came to do the Father's will.``````````````````
```````````That ended on dark Calvary's hill. __Newstrom```````````
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Jesus came to earth to repair our sin-damaged lives.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 1:18-25**********

18 Now the birth of Jesus
Christ wa as follows: after
His mother Mary was
betrothed to Joseph, before
they came together, she was
found with child of the
Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph
her husband, being a just
man, and not wanting to
make her a public example,
was minded to put her away
secretly.

20 But while he thought
about these things, behold,
an angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream.,
saying, "Joseph, son of
David, do not be afraid to
take to you Mary your wife,
for that which is conceived
in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 And she will bring forth a
Son, and you shall call His
name JESUS, for He will
save His people from their
sins."

22 So all this was done that
it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by the Lord
through the prophet, saying:

23 "Behold, the virgin shall
be with child, and bear a
Son, and they shall call His
name Immanuel," which is
translated, "God with us."

34 Then Joseph, being
aroused from sleep, did as
the angel of the Lord
commanded him and took
to him his wife, 25 and did
not know her till she had
brought forth her firstborn
Son. And he called His
name JESUS.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

A key figure in the nativity story is Joseph. Though silent, his
example speaks loudly to us. He is described as "just" and
(by implication) compassionate in verse 19. He is also seen as
committed to obedience, not only in marrying Mary (vv.20,24),
but also in naming the Child "Jesus," as instructed by the angel of
the Lord (vv. 21, 25). __Bill Crowder