Joseph Accepts God's Calling

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Joseph Accepts God's Calling

Date: Dec. 24, 2019

Passage

Matthew 1:18-25 (ESV)

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:21

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

1. "Immanuel" (18-23)

God sent the Messiah through the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit so he would be without sin. Mary's fiance Joseph could not believe it at first, but he showed his character by planning to divorce Mary quietly, without shaming her publicly. Then an angel came to Joseph and told him to take Mary as his wife and give the baby the name "Jesus". The angel explained that this child would save his people from their sins-something only God could do. The grace of Divine Christ's incarnation is expressed in the word "Immanuel". In Jesus, God is with us personally forever to save and care for us.

1. Joseph's obedience (24-25)

After waking from his dream, Joseph did what the angel had commanded. It looks like one normal person's small life decision. But Joseph's willingness to accept God's plan made him a great part of salvation history. This is an example of how God can use us as well.

Prayer: Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be God with us and save us from our sins. Please use me to bring Jesus to the world in some small way.

One Word: Immanuel

Countless Saved from God’s Wrath by the Blood of the Lamb

Revelation 7:1-17

Key Verse: 7:9-10

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Today's Question

Are all sins equally evil?

See answer and references