Joseph's Conversation

Mt. 1:18-25

Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Her husband had been chosen by her parents, and an agreement had been made and officially finalized, This union was legally binding and could only be broken by divorce. But into the mix came a small snafu!  Joseph found his intended bride with child. Mary knew the baby was from the Holy Spirit, but apparently Joseph did not believe so. He wanted a quiet divorce, one that did not shame Mary. 

Second snafu! An angel of the Lord had a private conversation with Joseph, one that opened his eyes to the truth of Mary's situation. He was told that the baby would be a son, and he was to call his name Jesus. No doubt this was a big deal since family names were very important to the Jewish people. Much like John the Baptist, Jesus' name came from God. And rightly so since Jesus was His Son. The angel reminded Joseph of the prophecy, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). This must have blown Joseph's mind. He was to be the earthly father to Immanuel. His wife, Mary, was carrying the Son of God, the Messiah. How unbelievable! For sure, this message could only be believed if an angel delivered it. The text says that Jospeh did as he was commanded. He did take Mary to be his wife, but he didn't consumate the union until after she had given birth. Joseph called His name Jesus! What a powerful name that is!

Father,

My heart is full as I think of Jesus and all He has done for me. Like Joseph, at times, I think that this new nature and this forgiveness are unbelievable. But I am so very thankful!

In His name,

Amen

The Birth of Jesus

Lk. 2

It is amazing how God orchestrated the events of Jesus' birth. In this text, the first detail has to do with the Roman emperor issuing a decree what all the world should be registered. All the way from Rome came the impetus to move Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where Jesus had to be born to fulfill prophecy.

The next detail was that Jesus would be born in humble circumstances. Mary's time came, and Jesus was born in a stable in a manger. Pretty humble!  Why? Because there was no room for them in the inn. No room! Sadly, this parallels the heart condition of most man down through the course of time--no room for the greatest gift man could ever receive. 

The the angels came to shepherds out in the fields tending to their flocks. Shepherds, not kings. The glory of the Lord surrounded them, and they were afraid, and rightly so. Their message stirred within the shepherd's heart the desire to go and see. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." The angels concluded their announcement with, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" The text says the shepherds went with haste to see the baby. No delay here! Their hearts were eager!

Then Matt. 2 tells of wise men coming from the east searching for the newly-born king. After stopping in Jerusalem, they met Herod and heard his request to bring back news of  the king. There they also learned of Bethlehem. They continued on their long journey following the star, a star placed specifically by God, until it rested over the place where Jesus was. When they saw the baby, they fell down and worshiped offering Him treasures fit for a king. God used them a dream to send the home another way [so sorry Herod!]. 

Just like in the birth of Jesus, God orchestrates the details of our lives. What an amazing God we serve!

Father,

Thank You for Jesus, for every small detail of His birth. Thank You for orchestrating my life as well. Help me to live obediently within the circumstances that You have put me in.

In Jesus name,\

Amen

The Birth of John

Lk. 1:57-80

Elizabeth did indeed give birth to a son. All her neighbors and family rejoiced that the Lord had been merciful to her in removing her barrenness. When it came time to circumcise the baby [8 days later], others inquired if they would name him Zechariah after his father. Elizabeth declared his name would be John. This was unheard of since there was no one in the family named John. Consequently, they went to Zechariah to inquire about the name. Surely Elizabeth must be wrong! But Zechariah wrote on a tablet that he was to be called John, and, at that moment, his tongue was loosed. Everyone there wondered. Zechariah's first words were blessings to God. However, fear descended on all those watching, and as the story spread, fear descended on all those in the hill country of Judea. They wondered what kind of child this would be since the hand of the Lord was upon him. Was it so foreign to see the hand of God upon someone? Or was it that the power of the Lord was a fearful thing? They knew that with great power came great judgment as well. 

Zechariah, being filled with the Spirit, prophesied. 

 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Zechariah certainly understood what John's ministry was to be, and he understood that prophecy was to be fulfilled. He was the father of the prophet of the Most High. He was the father of the forerunner of the Messiah. He was the father of a baby named John! John did grow physically and in spirit. He was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance. And what an appearance that would be!

Father,

Thank You for your words allowing us to see how You have worked and will work in the future. Thank You for orchestrating all the events necessary for the birth of Your son.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Leaping and Praising

Lk. 1:39-56

Upon finding out that Elizabeth was pregnant, Mary journeyed to visit her. It was quite the visit! Leaping and rejoicing! Filled with the Spirit! Wow! The text says that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby leaped in her womb. How amazing is that! Elizabeth's baby knew Mary's baby even when they were both in the womb! Supernaturally wonderful! 

Immediately Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit. Was it the Spirit within her baby, or was it Elizabeth as well? Regardless she exclaimed with a loud voice. There was some shouting and praising going on here! She blessed Mary and the baby within. Then she asked a probing question. Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? She knew that Mary's baby was the Lord. Definitely Spirit knowledge! For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. It says the sound, did she not see her? Apparently not, so all these Spirit directed  words and actions were only from hearing. How amazing!

Then Elizabeth uttered another blessing for Mary. Previously, she had said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And now she says, And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. Mary believed. She had faith! Even though she was a young women, her heart was God-directed. She knew the prophecies and was waiting for the coming Messiah. 

Her heart was so full at this moment that she uttered a song of praise,

"My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever."

Another evidence of the Spirit's work in her life. What beautiful words! Humility coupled with her faith in a sovereign God. She knows she is blessed not because of who she is but because of what God has given her. 

Father,

I ask for a servant's heart, one full of humility and recognizes your hand in everything.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Angel Message

Lk. 2:26-38

It's hard for me to imagine Mary's encounter with Gabriel, but perhaps that is because I am not a Jewish virgin waiting for and hoping that I would be the chosen one to bear the Messiah. But Mary was! Still, no doubt, it was somewhat scary to have a visit from an angel. The text says that she was troubled and wanted to discern what this visit was about. 

Just what exactly did Mary find out?

• That the angel was named Gabriel, and he was from God sent especially to her.
• She was the favored one.
• The Lord was with her.
• She would conceive and bear a son.
• She would call His name Jesus.
• Jesus would be great, called the Son of the Most High, be given the throne of David, would reign over Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there would be no end. 
• She would conceive by the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High.
• The child she would bear would be Holy-the Son of God.
• Her relative Elizabeth has conceived in her old age, and this would be her 6th month.
• Nothing is impossible with God.

Quite a truckload of information to digest and accept. I don't think Gabriel gave her time for processing. Her immediate response was, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word. How beautiful! Complete trust, acceptance, and obedience. No wonder she was the chosen one! No wonder Mary pondered these things in her heart. Her mind and spirit were on overload. 

Father,

Give me the spirit of Mary. Help my heart to be one of servanthood and obedience to You. I love You Lord.

In His name,

Amen

Zechariah and Elizabeth

Lk. 1:5-25

Since Zechariah was a priest serving in the temple, should he have believed Gabriel? Should he have known that a messenger from the Lord would only speak truth no matter how incredulous his message was. The text says that they were both righteous before God walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. That would speak of a heightened spiritual awareness. Nevertheless, I know that Zechariah no doubt feared for his life and perhaps this fear clouded his judgment, that and the fact that they were old left him speechless until the birth of the child. 

What a miracle! Their prayer had been answered. I wonder if they had ceased to pray that prayer since their age was so advanced. Regardless, here we have two old people producing John the Baptist, a man who would do such great things for God and who would be the forerunner of Christ. The angel told them of the great joy and gladness that would fill their lives and of the baby's great mission. He would be a Nazarite who would turn the hearts of many Israelites back to God. He would minister in the power of Elijah turning the heart of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. He was to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. Imagine how Elizabeth felt when he wrote all this to her. Her heart must have soared, or did she dabble in doubt as well. We don't know, but we do know that she was not mute as was her husband. 

She did conceive despite the medical impossibility and despite her husband's doubt. For 5 months she stayed in seclusion, but she said, Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among the people. Her burden was lifted, and her sorrow was dissipated. She was blessed of the Lord and was rejoicing in that fact. How wonderful! God can do miracles when it fits His timing and His purpose. The birth of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were 2 such great miracles to be remembered at this time of year. But for me, I will remember that with Christ came my atonement, redemption, and sanctification. He gave me the miracle of new life and new birth. He took away my reproach and my shame replacing it with His glorious grace.

Father,

Thank You for this great gift, for sending Jesus to be born such a humble birth, for His life and death, for His resurrection, for giving me new life, for covering me in His blood and Your great grace. Thank You. I can truly say Merry Christ-mas!

In His name,

Amen

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Rev. 19: 9

Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true words of God.

The rejoicing in heaven is great as they witness the judgment of the great prostitute. Her crimes were twofold: one, corrupting the earth with her immorality, and two, shedding the blood of God's servants. Her judgment was swift and final. The 24 elders and the 4 living creatures cry out, Amen, Hallelujah. Amen meaning complete and utter agreement with this judgment, and hallelujah meaning praise Yaweh.  

Into this John hears the voice of a great multitude who are worshiping God and His great works of judgment. Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and pure--for the linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Following judgment comes the marriage supper of the Bride, the saints, those who are washed in His blood, redeemed, and sanctified by His grace. They are clothed in linen, the righteous deeds of the saints. What are these deeds? Are they the works done by the believers? No, these righteous deeds are the gift of His grace. For apart from His grace we are nothing. All we do is stained by our ever-present though not enslaving flesh. As Paul put in Rom. 7, his delight was in the law of God in his inner being, but in his flesh was another law waging wag against the law of his mind and heart. This war was the sin that dwelled within him. So it is for all humans. We are not enslaved by this sin because Christ has won the victory. So even though we fail and fall, we are not condemned. We have been moved from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of the Beloved Son. Hallelujah! [Praise Yahweh!] And because of this great gift of grace our voice can be one with the great multitude in heaven, and we can be clothed in fine linen, the righteous deeds of the Saints, the gift of His amazing grace! How exciting to look forward to this!

Father,

As I read this, not only the marriage supper of the Lamb, but also Your swift and final judgment, I praise You for this gift of grace! Thank You over and over and throughout eternity. Thank You for sending Your Son to shed His blood and save and redeem me. Thank You for His great gift of grace that clothes me in fine linen, pure and bright. Thank You for making my voice one with the heavenly multitude. Thank You so much!

In the name of Jesus and because of His cleaning blood and His gift of grace,

Hallelujah! Praise Yahweh,

Amen.