OUR DAILY BREAD : ANOTHER HERO OF CHRISTMAS

[cimi]

December 13
Saturday


ANOTHER HERO
OF CHRISTMAS

READ:
Matthew 1:18-25
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Joseph her husband,
being a just man, and
not wanting to make
her a public example,
was minded to put her
away secretly.
__Matthew 1:19
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For most of my life, I missed the importance of Joseph in the Christmas story. But after I became a husband and father myself, I had a greater appreciation for Josephs' tender character. Even before he knew how Mary had become pregnant, he decided that he wasn't going to embarrass or punish her for what seemed to be infidelity (Matt. 1:19).

I marvel at his obedience and humility, as he not only did what the angel told him (v.24) but also refrained from physical intimacy with Mary until after Jesus was born (v.25). Later we learn that Joseph was willing to flee his home to protect Jesus (2:13-23).

Imagine the pressure Joseph and Mary must have felt when they learned that Jesus would be theirs to raise and nurture! Imagine the complexity and pressure of having the Son of God living with you every moment of every day; a constant call to holiness by His very presence. What a man Joseph must have been to be trusted by God for this task! What a wonderful example for us to follow, whether we're raising our own children or those born to others who are now entrusted to us.

May God grant us the strength to be faithful like Joseph, even if we don't fully understand God's plan. __Randy Kilgore

`````````````````We know, Father, that Your wisdom is far above our``````````````````
``````````````limited understanding. We thank You that we can rely on````````````````
`````````````````````You to carry out Your good plans for us.`````````````````````````
``````````````````````You are worthy of our faithfulness.````````````````````````````
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The secret of true service is absolute faithfulness
wherever God places you.

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

18 Now the birth of Jesus
Christ was 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, and 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."

24 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<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Each of the two New Testament accounts of Jesus' birth has a
different focus. Luke focuses on Mary and the angel's message to
her, the journey to Bethlehem, and the birth of Jesus. Matthew
focuses on Joseph, telling of the angelic messenger who assured
Joseph of the miraculous nature of the Christ child.