Come Home for Christmas
Monday, December 25, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for this Christmas Day! Thank You for the most amazing gift of all—Jesus, Your one and only Son, who came to take away the sin of the world! Thank You, too for Joseph, the man who was faithful as the earthly father of Jesus. Thank You for giving him the courage to face ridicule and scorn to be Mary’s husband in difficult circumstances and for hearing and obeying your will. I pray that You will fill me with the Holy Spirit right now, that I may also be obedient to You in every circumstance of life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
God’s Word Today
Matthew 1:20-25
20As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All of this happened to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and he will be called Immanuel
(meaning, God is with us).”
24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, 25but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Matthew 2:13-15; 19-23
13After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up and flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to try to kill the child.” 14That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.
19When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and told him, 20“Get up and take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” 21So Joseph returned immediately to Israel with Jesus and his mother. 22But when he learned that the new ruler was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid. Then, in another dream, he was warned to go to Galilee. 23So they went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets concerning the Messiah: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
How do you think you would have responded if you were placed in Joseph’s “sandals”?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
As you read the three separate passages from Matthew about Joseph’s role in Jesus’ early life, what stands out to you as the most important character traits of Joseph? Why?
How did God communicate with Joseph?
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
According to Matthew 1:20-25 and 2:13-15; 19-23 what is the bigger picture purpose of God for our lives?
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
The major trait of Joseph from this week’s readings seems to be His ability to discern God’s voice and will. God used dreams in Joseph’s case to transmit his messages. Think of how God communicates with you. How do you most often hear Him? Take some time to consider this, and to ask God to communicate His will to you clearly that you may do his will.
Thoughts—Christmas Greeting!
Rather than use this space to address the texts of the day, today I use it to wish you a Merry Christmas, and to pray for a healthy and profitable New Year! Those of you who read the daily bible studies and diligently seek not only to grow closer to God, but also to live out His will are an inspiration to me. Some of you have been diligently studying the Scriptures through these studies for more than five years now. Others may have just started. In any case, God promises that His word will not return to Him empty. As we study His word we come to know Him and His ways better. As we open ourselves to the working of the Holy Spirit in the process, we become more like Jesus in the living out of our lives. My prayer for you today and each day into 2007 is that as you seek the Lord diligently, you will find Him; as you study the word, you will be blessed not only by a deeper knowledge—by gaining more information, but that God will use His word to deepen the transformation of each of our hearts! Thank you for the encouragement you are to me. As I prepare these studies with Pat Fecich throughout the year, I know that their value cannot be overestimated. That’s not because of what Pat and I write, but because as a result of these studies you are into God’s word everyday! Please continue to make a daily time with God a priority in your life and take some time today in particular to say, “Thank You, God!” for sending Jesus to be the Savior of us all!