OUR DAILY BREAD FOR DEC 24TH...THE FORGOTTEN MAN

[cimi]

December 24
Monday


THE FORGOTTEN
MAN

READ:
Matthew 1:18-25
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Trust in the LORD
with all your heart,
and lean not on your
own understanding
__ Proverbs 3:5
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Amid all the Christmas activities, one man is often forgotten.

No, I don't mean the person whose birthday we're celebrating. Although we often fail to give Jesus first place as he deserves, we don't usually forget Him. I'm talking about Joseph_ the man God trusted so much that He placed His Son in his home to love and nurture. What a responsibility!

Joseph truly is the forgotten man in the Christmas story. Yet his task was an important component of God's incredible plan. As we read the story of the birth of Jesus, we find that Joseph was just, righteous, merciful, protective, and courageous. But most of all--he was obedient. When the angel told him to take Mary as his wife, he obeyed (Matt. 1:24). And when the angel told him to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus, he did (2:13-14).

Just as Mary was carefully chosen to bear the Son of God, Joseph was deliberately chosen to provide for his young wife and the Christ-child. And trusting God, Joseph followed through on everything God asked him to do.

What is God asking of you today? Are you willing to commit yourself to do whatever He wants you to do?

We can learn much about obedience from Joseph, the forgotten man of Christmas. __ Cindy Hess Kasper
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~It matters not the path on earth~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~My feet are made to trod;~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~It only matters how I live:~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Obedient to God. __Clark~~~~~~~~~~~
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The proof of our love for God
is our obedience to the commands of God.

**************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,
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:

17 "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<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

This is the classic passage on the virginal conception of Christ. Three
times (vv.18,20,25) we are told that Mary had no sexual union with
Joseph before Jesus was born. __SKT