Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 1:18-25 on biblegateway.com
Verse 18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Verse 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. Verse 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared 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. Verse 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Verse 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Verse 23"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." Verse 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, Verse 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Devotion
Joseph faces difficult choices brought on by the demands of commitment, fear, propriety and righteousness. Although his initial motives and plans are ambiguous, the climax of this narrative comes in Joseph’s clear and simple obedience to the angel’s commands, no matter how incredible the explanation may have sounded. God’s plan frequently surprises and occasionally contravenes other standards of wisdom, self-preservation, justice or good sense. The marvels of the first Christmas are no different.
Prayer
Emmanuel! Open our ears, sovereign Lord, to the ways in which you continue to announce your wondrous work in the world. Drive away the fear of scandal that too often attends our desires to obey you. Amen.