The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Season of Advent 

December 20, 2024

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded

and took Mary as his wife.

Matthew 1:24

Read Matthew 1: 18-25

When Joseph learned Mary was pregnant, he had several choices. He could have had used his knowledge of Jewish law to have Mary killed, or shamed as he publicly divorced her. However, he chose none of those options. He chose not to harm Mary, not to abuse, expose, shame, ridicule, or demean her value and dignity. He chose to protect her. Where did he get such a notion that was so counter-cultural to his times?

Joseph’s response to Mary’s pregnancy reminds me of a line from a song:

“So when you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart.”

Cynthia Clawson - Trust His Heart

When Joseph could not see God’s hand in the circumstance of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph trusted God’s heart. Joseph responded by trusting the nature and character of God. Joseph revealed his trust when he responded to an angel of the Lord’s appearance to him in a dream, “When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife” (Matthew 1:24).

My Takeaway: More wisdom from Cynthia’s song:

He sees the master plan

And He holds our future in His hand

So don't live as those who have no hope

All our hope is found in Him

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.