12/3/15- Day 4 Joseph Facing Terrorism

12/3- Mt. 1:16- 21,24- Joseph
¹⁶ And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. ¹⁷ So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations…  21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^f because he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^g (which means “God with us”).
  ²⁴ Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, ²⁵ and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

 

Thoughts: Joseph was a man full of integrity and grace.  He was kind and faithful to Mary though he was not sure (until an angel spoke to him in a dream) that Mary was faithful to him.  God’s plan was to infiltrate the world in a covert fashion- in a non-flashy way.  He did not parade into town.  Jesus, the Lord of heaven and earth entered into a small town as a nobody.  But it was His love that changed the world. 
Jesus came to save His people from their worst enemy.  The worst enemy is not poverty.  The worst enemy is not our environment- whether poor or great.  The worst enemy is not terrorism.  The worst enemy is sin and death which are related.  When Jesus came to save us from our sins, He also saves us from our spiritual death- the consequence of sin.  Jesus is the solution to the ultimate enemies of life and peace for He is the Prince of Peace.  In his integrity, Joseph allowed Jesus to grow and prosper.  When we have integrity and do what is right, we allow Jesus' name to still grow and prosper.  Joseph tried to do what was right despite the terror and problems of his day.  He also sought to protect his family- taking them away from Herod into Egypt.  When we seek to do what is right and to please God, God will guide us and help us in our decisions and with our peace.  

Prayer: In tough times and good times, help me to be a person of integrity- doing your will and the right thing.

 

Song: “To a maid engaged to Joseph, the angel Gabriel came.  Fear not the angel told her, I come to bring good news; good news I come to tell you, good news I say, good news.”
(#98 in Glory to God)

Activity: Do something for the children of Thornwell Home who may have lost or cannot be with their earthly father.  At the least say a prayer for them.