To: wordfortheday@googlegroups.com
Subject: W4TD 12/11/2024 WEDNESDAY
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Christmas Story: JOSEPH the Carpenter was very disappointed when he
learned that Mary, his fiancé, was expecting a baby. Joseph didn't know what
to do.
According
to Jewish tradition, he could have had Mary publicly shamed (or even stoned)
but he was a good man and didn't want to make a spectacle. Joseph decided
that he would cancel the marriage quietly. JOSEPH DECIDED to end his engagement to Mary, because she
was pregnant. But an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph,
son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son. You
shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who will save his people from their
sins."
JOSEPH OBEYED the Lord without hesitation. He took Mary
into his home from that day on, but he did not sleep with her. Joseph's
faithfulness and care of Mary are a very lovely part of the Christmas story. Joseph
is one of my favorite people in the Bible because whenever God told him to do
something, Joseph did it immediately, without hesitation, without concern for
his own comfort or well-being, and without procrastination. MARY & JOSEPH didn't have a clue what the life of Jesus
Christ would mean for themselves or their people, but they were willing to
obey God. And that's all that God is asking for, from any of us: to be
willing to do our part. Are
you willing to obey God?
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