- When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife. Matthew 1:24 – After coming off the Christmas season recently, likely we all have the nativity story well in our minds. We see the scriptural truths that Mary conceived Jesus as a virgin and our verse above shows Joseph decided to be the earthly father of Jesus. While a lot is focused on Mary in this story, can we pause for a moment and give some credit to Joseph. Here is a man who is seeking to live as faithfully as he can for the Lord, yet finds out the woman he is betrothed to is pregnant. Instead of humiliating here like most men would, he chooses to lovingly break off the betrothal so save her from some of the shame that would be attached to an event like this. Yet, when the Lord told him to marry her still, what did he do? He did exactly as the Lord told him to do. No questions, no debate, but immediately did exactly as God called him to do. Likely that choice was attached to mockery towards him and shame even directed at him. People likely questioned his character saying maybe he slept with Mary and that’s why he’s going through with the marriage. Whatever the gossip or pressures were that faced Joseph as a result of his choice to marry Mary, he faithfully did what God asked him to do. He set a good example of an earthly father for little Jesus even before Jesus was born. Know what God is asking you to do may have attached to it some earthly troubles. You must decide will the troubles cause you to sway from being obedient to the Lord or will your press forward remaining faithful to the Lord still. Choose wisely by choosing faithfulness to the Lord. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3323
- The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1 – Anytime I get the chance to write about or speak on a chapter with the genealogy of Jesus in it I have to share this same message. The story of Jesus had some messed up parts to it. There was incest, murder, adultery, and even prostitution in the family of Jesus. Not to mention the horrible rulers and all they did to worship idols and other things. What you then need to remember is that your past doesn’t define you and God can make something beautiful out of the worst of things. Your story may as well have some horrible parts to its past, just know God can create something beautiful out of it if you let Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 855
- So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. Matthew 1:17 – In Genesis 12:2 God says, “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” What we see in our passage today is the fulfillment of the promise of God to Abraham. Yes Abraham got the chance to see his family grow, but never got the chance to see a great nation come out of it. He never got to see how from his family line the Messiah came to be the truest and deepest blessing the world could ask for. All that God promised Abraham happened, but the majority of the fulfillment of God’s promise happened long after Abraham had died. Be ready to move through life like this. God is promising to bring about purpose, meaning, and victory through the mess of life we can find ourselves in. Yet while we may get the blessing of seeing that promise fulfilled in our time, we may not. The fulfillment of all God said He would do may take place in our kids, grandkids, or great great great grandkid’s story. What God isn’t is unfaithful. Yes, this way of handling our struggles seems unfair and far from how we would wish it to be dealt with. Yet remember even in Abraham’s story what took place. God blessed him with a mighty family, provided for him and his whole family during the famine, allowed his line to grow, and even used his family to birth the Savior of the world. You may not get to witness the full fulfillment of God’s promise within the short span of your life, but have confidence whatever God has spoken to do within your story He’ll do. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1951
Daily DEVO 