Daily Worship

So you think everything on the journey should be the way you planned it?

December 24, 2013 0 0

Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph accepts Jesus as his son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: his mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

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. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’

22 All this took place to fulfil 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’ (which means ‘God with us’).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Almighty God, just before we finish our journey to Bethlehem we stop on the way to remind ourselves that our life’s journey is not always what we plan. We think of the news that shook Joseph and the shame that overtook Mary and her family. The journey of their lives had taken an unexpected turn and they thought disaster had overtaken them – but, as Joseph planned his way out of trouble you were at work in his life.

Forgive us, O God, when we try to plan our way out of trouble without considering what your purpose is in our life. Help us to understand that some of the unexpected turns on the way, while they may be hard to bear and difficult to understand, are still your way of working with us.

Remind us, O God, that growing in faith and growing in character can be painful, but that you never leave us or forsake us on the way. 

When Joseph’s head was in a spin – you were there

When Mary thought she was going to be abandoned - you were there

On the coldest night, in a shed behind an Inn - you were there

So, when we find ourselves in a spin or feel abandoned and in places where we never thought the journey would take us – be there with us, for the sake of the Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

 

By John Chalmers