And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25,NASB)
We know very little about Joseph, the earthly, legal father of Jesus. The Bible teaches us that Joseph’s father was named Jacob, and that Joseph was the husband of Mary (Matthew 1:16); that Joseph was a righteous man (v. 19); he was obedient to God’s commands (vv. 24-25); he was a descendant of King David (Luke 2:4); and Joseph was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55).
In the passage above, Joseph had found his fiance with Child, and was pondering divorce. An angel of the Lord visited Joseph in a dream, and told him to marry Mary, who was pregnant with the Son of God. Joseph was obedient to God’s command.
We all know that Joseph took his wife to Bethlehem to take part in the census proclaimed by Caesar Augustus, and that Mary gave birth to Jesus there. All indications are that Joseph was “a righteous man,” which was why God chose him to raise His Son. Jesus grew up in a devout Jewish home, which was God’s plan. Jesus was an obedient son to Mary and Joseph: “. . . and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51) Jesus was a great example to all of us as He grew up, honoring His father and mother. Joseph disappears from the Bible narrative after Jesus was a young Man. We presume he died before Jesus’ public ministry. But he kept God’s commands, and raised His Son.
While we don’t know a lot about Joseph, we do know he was righteous, and kept God’s commands. He set a great example for us, bringing his adopted son up according to biblical principles. God trusted Joseph to bring up His Son in a devout home. And Joseph did just that!
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” (Luke 1:26-33, NASB)
A recent Bible study mentioned the prominent role of angels in the story of the Advent of Jesus. Whether by name, or by mention, they played a key part.
The archangel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias as he was performing his priestly duties, to announce that he and wife Elizabeth would, in their old age, become the parents of John the Baptist. (Luke 1:11-20) Next, Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of the Messiah, the mother of her Savior. (the Bible verses above)
Next, “an angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream,” to tell him not to be afraid to marry Mary, who was pregnant with God’s Son. (Matthew 1:19-24) Then, “an angel of the Lord” appeared to some shepherds on the outskirts of Bethlehem, to announce the birth of the Christ Child, and tell them where to go to find Him. (Luke 2:9-14) And finally, “an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph [again!] in a dream,” and told him to flee to Egypt with the Child, as Herod was trying to kill Him. (Matthew 2:13)
It’s a common occurrence in the Bible when a person encounters an angel, to have the angel tell them to not be afraid. Either the appearance of angels is frightening, or their showing up is so unexpected, that the angel gives this reassurance.
The other day on The 700 Club, Gordon Robertson was discussing angels. He told the audience that the Bible says that “angels” are appointed to watch over us. He said that’s at least two!
The angels in the Christmas story add a sense of wonder as we read. As followers of Jesus, we not only have the Holy Spirit as our Helper and Teacher, we have at least two angels watching over us! I think we should not hinder all of them from doing their work!
Worship;: “Angelic Proclamation,” by BarlowGirl
Worship: “He Shall Reign Forevermore,” by Chris Tomlin
“. . . She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:21-23, NASB)
The Apostle Matthew, in his account of Jesus’ birth, writes that when Joseph found out that his fiance, Mary, was pregnant, Joseph, “being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.” (Matthew 1:19) But an angel visited him in a dream. The angel told him that Mary’s child was conceived from the Holy Spirit, and not to be afraid to take Mary for his wife. (v. 20)
The option Joseph considered was divorce (betrothal was as good as marriage at the time). The possible penalty for Mary, according to the Law of Moses, was being stoned to death. But Joseph is described as “a righteous man,” and didn’t want “to disgrace her.” The angel also describes Joseph as “son of David,” along whose lineage the Messiah would come.
In the passage above, the angel tells Joseph that the Child’s name would be “Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew reports, “Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us.'”
The prophet Isaiah foretold the event we celebrate on Christmas. “Immanuel” means “God with us.” If you’re a Jesus-follower, not only is God with us, but He lives in us in the person of the Holy Spirit! If you don’t know Jesus, this season of Advent would be the perfect time to ask Him to be the Lord of your life! Would you do this today? Then God would not only be WITH you, He would be IN you! That’s the hope of Christmas!
Worship: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” by Joshua Aaron, from “The Chosen” Christmas Special
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” by Amy Grant
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it . . . There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:1-5, 9-13, NASB)
The Apostle John wrote his gospel with the Jewish people in mind. It’s no mistake that he begins with, “In the beginning . . . ” These are the same words that lead in the book of Genesis. “The Word” is Jesus Christ, Who was in on the Creation. Two of John’s themes in his writings are “Light” and “love.” In his first chapter, John talks about Jesus being the Light: “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” The world was waiting for Messiah to come, but they missed their opportunity to enjoy Him.
Further, John calls Jesus “the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.” Every human being has the opportunity to receive salvation through Him. Although Jesus created the world, “the world did not know Him.” Who would’ve expected God to come to the earth in the form of a man? It made no sense to those who observed. “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” Israel, which was looking for Messiah, didn’t recognize Him, and even rejected Him.
However, there is good news: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” This was God’s plan of redemption all along, that whoever would believe in His Son would be reconciled with Him!
In this time of Advent, we pause to reflect on Jesus’ incarnation, His arrival on the earth He created, on the greatest rescue mission in history. He was, and is, the true Light of the world! Do you walk in the Light, or in the darkness? Are you a child of God?
. . . you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. (Ephesians 4:8-13)
Worship: “Light of the World,” by Lauren Daigle
ALS Update: Yesterday, December 2nd, was the third anniversary of my tracheostomy. I also had a feeding tube installed. The neurologist who made my diagnosis wanted me to do the trache and feeding tube immediately. Her rationale: The sooner we do it, the quicker I would recover. I waited a year-and-a-half, and I’m not sorry. We left her office in a hurry.
I’ve about run out of muscles to fail. My facial muscles work, but not very well. My lips are no good for lip reading. I can’t swallow all my saliva (at a recent visit to the ENT doctor, he told us that it takes many muscles to swallow, and eventually they will fail; that makes sense!). I can still raise my eyebrows somewhat. When I yawn it’s an adventure to see where my tongue ends up; I usually bite it either on the front or the left side.
God has blessed me far beyond what I deserve, and far beyond measure!
The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar . . . Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah . . . Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon . . . Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:1-3, 5-6, 11, 16-17, NASB)
The books of Matthew and Luke both have earthly genealogies of our Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Luke’s version traces Jesus’ ancestry all the way back to Adam. Matthew’s genealogy begins with father Abraham. I think most Bible scholars combine the two, beginning with Luke’s account, from Adam to Abraham, and picking up from Abraham on using Matthew’s narrative. The difference between the two is from King David onward, Matthew showing Solomon to be David’s son, while Luke reports Nathan as the son. Both are correct, ending with Joseph, Jesus’ adopted earthly father.
Matthew (a.k.a. Levi), the former tax collector, was chosen by Jesus to follow Him. Matthew wrote his gospel as a way to attract Jewish people to become followers of the Messiah. He begins his account with the genealogy to prove that Jesus is a descendant of King David, which was foretold by the prophets. Matthew’s lineage is called “The Royal Line,” because it goes through the kings of Judah.
To me, of interest is the cast of characters we find in the Royal Line. We see saints and sinners, good kings and bad, Gentiles, and ordinary people. Isn’t that just like God? Satan tried many times to thwart the genealogy of Jesus, but was defeated each time. Let’s meet some of the people involved:
Judah was one of the sons of Jacob. One of Judah’s sons married Tamar, and he died. Tamar disguised herself as a harlot, tricked her father-in-law, and they had a son, Perez.
Rahab was a harlot in Jericho. When the Israelites first entered the Promised Land, Joshua sent spies to survey the city. Rahab hid the spies in return for safety for her and her family when Israel invaded Jericho. Rahab married Salmon, and became the great-great-grandmother of David.
Ruth was the heroine of the book of Ruth. She was a Gentile from Moab, married Boaz, and was the great-grandmother of David.
Bathsheba was married to Uriah the Hittite, who was off to war. King David had an affair with her, got her pregnant, and later had Uriah murdered. David took Bathsheba as his wife, but the child died. Later, they had a son, Solomon.
Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, adopted Him. Adoption was, and is, considered just as legal as being the natural father, hence the genealogy runs through Joseph.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Son of David. He was, and is, the Messiah, foretold by the prophets of old. It’s He Who we celebrate during this Advent season. Is He the Lord of your life? He is the Savior of the world!
Worship: “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” by Meredith Andrews
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27, NASB)
In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul discusses one example of the Holy Spirit’s role as Helper, in that He helps us to pray! Paul says, “we do not know how to pray as we should,” and the Spirit helps us with that. How? He “intercedes for us, with groanings too deep for words.” C.S. Lewis called this “God talking to God.”
Further, God “who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is,” and “He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” So it appears that God and the Holy Spirit are on the same page! That’s because the Holy Spirit IS God. The reason the Spirit intercedes for us in accordance with the will of God, is because God the Father and the Holy Spirit are of the same mind. The “will of God” is very important in our prayer lives.
A good friend, the late Pastor Don Seymore, perhaps the best Bible teacher I’ve heard, taught me that our prayers should not be a laundry list of our wants and desires. Rather, they should be a reflection of God’s will. (As an example, if we need reliable transportation in our life, we should pray that God will meet our transportation needs, and not for a Corvette!) And how do we know what is the will of God? We have to study His word. The more we study, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach us, the more likely we are to be of one accord with the Spirit and with the Father.
What is the will of God? As a partial list, He desires strong marriages; a healthy family life; that our homes would be blessed, and that Satan would not gain a stronghold in them; that our houses would be peaceful; that all people would see salvation (although this is not His mandate); and that people would be healed from illness and diseases (although not everyone will be healed; we all will expire from this earth because of Adam’s transgressions). As I said, this is only a partial list of God’s will for our lives, but when I pray for my friends and others, these are the things for which I pray!
The Holy Spirit is Helper and Teacher. If you know Jesus, then the Holy Spirit lives in you. You’re His Tabernacle. According to Paul, we don’t know how to pray, but the Helper does, and He assists us, according to God’s will! Let’s let the Helper do His work!
O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. (1 Chronicles 16:34, NASB)
King David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and pitched a tent for it on Mount Moriah, the site of the future Temple. God had denied David’s request to build a temple for Him, since he was a man of war. Instead, God told David that the honor of building the Temple would go to his son, Solomon. David did the next-best thing, in his mind, bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, to its temporary home. First Chronicles 16 documents the celebration that followed, and a psalm of thanksgiving. Many of the words from this psalm are repeated in Psalms 107 and 118.
On this day of national Thanksgiving, I have much for which to thankful. I thank God for sending His Son to die in my place for the sins I’ve committed; for sending His Holy Spirit, Who is my Teacher and Helper; for my most precious earthly gift, my wife, Sue, who loves me, and takes outstanding care of me; for our precious gifts, three wonderful children, their spouses, and 12 precious grandchildren; for giving me a loving family as I grew up, and great in-laws when I married Sue; and being born in the greatest nation in history, this God-blessed land! I’ve lived a great life. God has blessed me far beyond measure, and certainly way beyond what I deserve! And I have the hope of eternal life after my years on this earth!
I’m grateful for you!
Worship: “Give Thanks to the Lord (for He Is Good),” by Francesca LaRosa
. . . we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21, NASB)
In Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, he writes that “we are ambassadors for Christ.” In the previous paragraph, Paul tells the Corinthians, as a reminder, that God sent His Son Jesus, as a reconciliation; that if we would accept Jesus as Savior, that our sins would not be counted against us, “and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) Since we’ve been made right with God, we’re His representatives on His earth!
Being God’s ambassadors is a heavy responsibility. Those who are not believers are watching. We should attract people, and love them into the Kingdom. That’s why Paul tells them (and us), “we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” To be reconciled means to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord of our lives. After all, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Jesus came to the earth He created with one purpose: To die as a substitutionary sacrifice for you and for me. He took the punishment for our sins that we all deserve. God’s plan of salvation requires us to acknowledge that sacrifice for our sins. Jesus paid it all for us. It’s a free gift from God the Father, which was obtained at a high cost. Is Jesus your Savior?
Worship: “Jesus Messiah,” by Chris Tomlin (video scenes from “The Passion of the Christ”)
“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. (Acts 3:17-21, NASB)
The text above is a part of Peter’s second recorded sermon, documented by Dr. Luke in his book of Acts. Peter had just healed a lame beggar near the Temple in Jerusalem, and the crowd among them was amazed. “But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, ‘Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?'” (Acts 3:12) At this, Peter launches into his sermon.
Peter reminds the onlookers that they had traded Jesus for Barabbas, a murderer, and insisted that Jesus be crucified by Pilate. He tells them that Jesus has been raised from the dead, and that their God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had so glorified this Jesus. Peter then tells them that it is not he who healed the man, but “it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
We pick up with the passage above. Peter tells the crowd that the prophets foretold of the Messiah’s coming, and that Jesus had fulfilled what was prophesied. Next, he gives advice which is good for us today: “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you.”
The word “repent” means to turn from. In today’s slang, we say, “do a 180.” With respect to sin, it means we must turn from it, and not go back. Peter says that when we truly do this, that God will send us His Son Jesus, and we will have “times of refreshing” in our lives.
This is the same Peter, who only weeks before, on the night Jesus was betrayed and led before the Temple authorities, had denied knowing Him. But now, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter was now speaking the truth with no fear. That same power is available to us, if we follow Peter’s advice, to repent of our sins, and to accept Jesus Christ as Savior of our lives!
Worship: “It’s All About You, Jesus,” Artist Unknown
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security. Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, The one that remains faithful. The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock. (Isaiah 26:1-4,NASB)
The 26th chapter of Isaiah is called “Song of Trust in God’s Protection.” The prophet tells of a time in our future, when the nation of Judah will be reestablished in the land of Israel. In the context of the time, Judah had yet to be defeated by, and exiled to Babylon.
In the portion above, Isaiah looks forward to that day when Judah will be reestablished in a secure land. Who will provide security? God will! The city gates will be opened so “that the righteous nation may enter, the one that remains faithful.” (I’m not sure, but this sounds to me like the New Jerusalem!)
Next, the prophet speaks of peace, and how to achieve it: “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.” So the formula for finding perfect peace, “Shalom,” is to place one’s trust in the Lord God Almighty. Finally, Isaiah tells us to “Trust in the LORD forever.” Why? Because “in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.”
God is my Rock. I will trust in Him forever! Although I have ALS, He has not failed in one good promise to me. He’s promised eternal life to me because I’ve placed my trust in Jesus Christ, His Son. When I get to heaven, I will see perfect peace, Shalom!
