Today's Verse: Matthew 1:20

Sunday, December 1, 2013

But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Reassurance beyond understanding!
That's the beginning of the Christ story for Joseph: like with Mary and the angel at the annunciation, God's reassurance of things beyond human understanding was what Joseph received in this glorious visitation! What he could not understand and what he had no part in creating will now be the groundbreaking journey of his own faithful and generous heart. He was to be the human daddy to the Savior of the world and the Messiah of Israel. He would live the rest of his life knowing that a miracle happened with Mary without his input or involvement. As a righteous and kind man, he would bear the disgrace of the world's misunderstanding about the conception of their child. His faith and God's use of him in this story should awaken each of us to the incredible possibilities that God may have in store for us. Why not use this December to re-awaken your heart to the Holy One, born Jesus of Nazareth, and let's ask God to bless us through Jesus with reassurance beyond our human understanding!

My Prayer...

Father, I have long admired Joseph for his trust in you - a trust that helped him deal with what he could not understand. Now I come, with wild-eyed Joseph-like excitement and bewilderment, to be reminded again of the miracle of your Son and my Savior. Please make him real to me as I seek to know him better and bless me with reassurance beyond my limited human understanding! In Jesus' name and because of his miraculous conception and incarnation, I pray this. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

20 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 1:20 — But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, December 1, 2013

A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"[After the return of the people of Judah from Babylon, this is what the Lord said about them,] "They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear...."
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword."
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
"Then [the Jewish leaders cursed the man who had been healed of his blindness] and said, "You are [Jesus'] disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! We...."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.