Morning Devotional – Inspirational But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21 NIV If the genealogy indicates that Joseph descended from King David, this narrative explains in what sense this son of David (1:20) became Jesus legal father by adoption. In this brief narrative Matthew provides not only an account of the virgin birth but reinforcement of the Christian view of Scripture and of Christ. Luke focuses on Gods revelation to Mary; Matthew focuses on the revelation to Joseph. Not only does Matthew teach us about the authority of Scripture through Isaiah and about fidelity, commitment and obedience through Joseph, he also provides teaching about salvation from sin through Christ. Many Bible readers today want to hear the Bible made relevant and practical to issues like those Matthew teaches through the example of Joseph, but nothing Matthew tells us is more practical than the way he reveals the heart and character of our Lord, as we get to know Jesus better through the Scriptures. Matthew then invites us to consider and worship the God who accepted the ultimate vulnerability, born as an infant to poor and humiliated parents into a world hostile to His presence. Oppressors must hate such a God, for His abandonment of power for love is contrary to everything they stand for. But the broken and oppressed find in Him a Savior they can trust in a world where trust is generally dangerous. Of all the worlds faiths, only Christianity announces a God who embraced our pain with us. So to have an intimate relationship with the Scriptures author forces our character to become more like His.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:00:00 +0000
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