God sent Jesus to us and what is remarkable is that he didn't just suddenly appear as a man who came to proclaim salvation to us. Rather, he comes to us as a baby and born of a woman. He comes within the context of a family. What gets thornier is how this narrative all plays out. God is involved during the whole time of Mary's pregnancy. The message this Sunday will focus on Joseph and his role. We have these words from our Gospel reading pertaining to Joseph after discovering Mary's pregnancy...
"Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord apeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people rom their sins.'" Matthew 1:19-20
What do you make of this? Joseph had desired to seek a divorce (engagement was tantamount to marriage in that day) and now God intervenes to give directions to Joseph to go ahead and take Mary as his wife. I wonder how often we realize that God may be intervening to write the script of OUR lives. Maybe we feel compelled to go in a certain direction; but we feel a tugging inside us to do otherwise. We must change our course of action!
I believe as people of faith we must live on faith. We must always be open for God's leading however that might occur. It is having our antenna tuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. You might want to read the entire selection which is Matthew 1:18-25 to get the full story for this Sunday.
May God's blessings be upon your preparation and worship this Sunday.
Pastor Marty
"Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord apeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people rom their sins.'" Matthew 1:19-20
What do you make of this? Joseph had desired to seek a divorce (engagement was tantamount to marriage in that day) and now God intervenes to give directions to Joseph to go ahead and take Mary as his wife. I wonder how often we realize that God may be intervening to write the script of OUR lives. Maybe we feel compelled to go in a certain direction; but we feel a tugging inside us to do otherwise. We must change our course of action!
I believe as people of faith we must live on faith. We must always be open for God's leading however that might occur. It is having our antenna tuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. You might want to read the entire selection which is Matthew 1:18-25 to get the full story for this Sunday.
May God's blessings be upon your preparation and worship this Sunday.
Pastor Marty
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