The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“And the angel said unto her, fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).

I have often wondered what Mary was doing when the angel came in unto her (1:28). The first thing Gabriel says after greeting her and assuring her of God’s blessing was, “Fear not.” She must have been terrified. While we do not know what Mary was doing, by the terminology of the angel coming in unto her, apparently she was doing something that was rather routine. No, I am not going to venture a guess. The important thing is that the angel gave her an announcement that was going to change her life. Within a very brief few seconds, Mary’s life would change forever. Here she was, a teenager, engaged to Joseph and promised to become his bride. In her mind and heart, she was committed to the greatest degree of devotion to Joseph. Suddenly the angel tells her she has found favor with God and that He has quite an assignment for her. The great lesson in this Christmas message rests in the fact that we do not have to be fearful of God’s assignments. We are people upon whom the favor of God rests. What He brings into our lives will be according to His plan and purpose. God is too wise to make any mistakes. God is too loving to be unkind. You can trust the Lord and think of His wonderful words, “Fear not!”

For today: While I may not understand everything He is doing, still I will trust Him and not be afraid.

“Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife” (Matthew 1:24).

I am so impressed with Joseph. Apparently as soon as he got up from his sleep he obeyed the Lord and took Mary to be his wife. While I so respect Joseph for his courage and conviction, I must not forget Mary. Tomorrow we will think of the tremendous decision and compliance of this young teenage girl that we know as Mary. But for today, think of the obedience of Joseph. He did not argue with the Lord. He did not complain to the Lord about his circumstances. He did not hesitate to obey the Lord. We need to be very careful as we read God’s Word that we do not offer up excuses for our delay and disobedience. As a Christian counselor I have threatened to write a book and entitle it, “Yeah, But!” I have heard these two words so many times over the years. Folks agree with what God’s Word says, but then they interject that terrible word “but.” Then the excuses come. I am so glad it was not that way with Joseph. He acted with faith and obeyed even if he did not fully understand.

For today: Joseph’s kind of obedience sounds like it would be good for you and me as well.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for He shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

What an assignment God was bringing to Mary and Joseph! Through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived her Son. Joseph would have the incredible task of raising the only perfect Child. God even gave Joseph the name of the baby. He would be called Jesus. That precious name means, “Jehovah is Salvation.” How important it will be in all of the busyness of the season that you and I do not lose track of the central message and the greatest blessing of Christmas. The cards are nice. The services are wonderful. The gifts are very special. But they all pale in comparison to the wonderful person of Jesus. He came to save us from our sins. I am going to be asking the Lord to help me to really focus on this awesome truth. How about you?

For today: Dear Lord, please help me to keep focused on You. You are the reason for the season.

“But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:20).

What an incredible time of the year! We have the opportunity of celebrating our Lord’s incarnation. As a husband, I have often thought of Joseph in the Christmas story. I respect Joseph. He was a man of compassion. After believing the worst, he was still moved with compassion and was going to put Mary away quietly and privately rather than make her a public example. Then when the angel of the Lord assured him that he should go ahead and take Mary to be his wife, Joseph obeyed! Who would believe such a story? Many would be the accusations. More than just a few folks would whisper behind Joseph and Mary’s back. Yet Joseph quickly obeyed. What a great lesson for us! To obey the Lord and to follow His instructions are the greatest blessings and the greatest opportunities we will ever experience.

For today: I want to obey the Lord. How about you?

“She was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately” (Matthew 1:18-19).

It must have been the worst day of his life! Joseph loved his Mary. She had been promised to him and no doubt he looked forward with great anticipation to their marriage and life together as husband and wife. Perhaps many times Joseph dreamed of that wonderful day when he would hold Mary in his arms and they would become husband-and-wife. Now it was the worst day of his life. Mary was found with child. Joseph thought the worst! What would any fiancé think? There is a great lesson in this for us today. Sometimes we need to slow down and give God the opportunity and time to work in our situation and show us His plan. What can appear to be the very worst thing in the entire world sometimes is God’s appointment for His good and our blessing. It is very true that at times our greatest disappointment is actually God’s greatest appointment, if we give Him time to work it out.

For today: God has a plan. Don’t run ahead of Him. Don’t lag behind Him. Watch what God is going to do.