To All a Glorious Christmas and New Year.
If there ever was a man who gave up his own plans to become an actor in the will of God, it was Joseph the fiancé of Mary the Mother of Jesus. Here is the story of his commitment to Providence and the yielding of his will to a higher purpose.
The Birth of Jesus
18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph, before they enjoyed their wedding night, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
20-23 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves'—because he will save his people from their sins." This would bring the prophet's embryonic revelation to full term:
Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us").
24-25 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.
God asked Joseph to abandon his principle to become a key part of this divinely directed drama. It would require abstinence. It is in verses like this we discover God's orchestration of the Greatest Story Ever Told. It should be a truth of every believer's life that God orchestrates the disciplines of our lives. Joseph was a Righteous man and an example to all of us who desire to continue the legacy of the faithful men and women who have passed the baton from generation to generation.
Joseph was a called out one, and as one who could hear the voice of God. He dignified himself by obedience to God's instructions. His journey to Egypt took him far from home in an alien land. He knew that destiny was before him, not behind him. He is a picture of the religious right, so he knew what was right and wrong but, in his case, he was able to discern between the voice of God and the strictest rules. Can you imagine him saying to himself, I am not an unrighteous man, a heretic, or an unbeliever that nearly missed his appointment with destiny. I am not even a self-righteous man. What an example Joseph was to all of us who have the gift of helps. He truly is a splendid picture of one who responded to the call of God on his life.
We believe in you and appreciate your love for God and the Heritage family.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Your friends and pastors,
Cleddie and GayNell
If there ever was a man who gave up his own plans to become an actor in the will of God, it was Joseph the fiancé of Mary the Mother of Jesus. Here is the story of his commitment to Providence and the yielding of his will to a higher purpose.
The Birth of Jesus
18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph, before they enjoyed their wedding night, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
20-23 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves'—because he will save his people from their sins." This would bring the prophet's embryonic revelation to full term:
Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us").
24-25 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.
God asked Joseph to abandon his principle to become a key part of this divinely directed drama. It would require abstinence. It is in verses like this we discover God's orchestration of the Greatest Story Ever Told. It should be a truth of every believer's life that God orchestrates the disciplines of our lives. Joseph was a Righteous man and an example to all of us who desire to continue the legacy of the faithful men and women who have passed the baton from generation to generation.
Joseph was a called out one, and as one who could hear the voice of God. He dignified himself by obedience to God's instructions. His journey to Egypt took him far from home in an alien land. He knew that destiny was before him, not behind him. He is a picture of the religious right, so he knew what was right and wrong but, in his case, he was able to discern between the voice of God and the strictest rules. Can you imagine him saying to himself, I am not an unrighteous man, a heretic, or an unbeliever that nearly missed his appointment with destiny. I am not even a self-righteous man. What an example Joseph was to all of us who have the gift of helps. He truly is a splendid picture of one who responded to the call of God on his life.
We believe in you and appreciate your love for God and the Heritage family.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Your friends and pastors,
Cleddie and GayNell