UNEXPECTED

Daily Scripture Readings

Monday           Genesis 9:20-23

Tuesday          Genesis 15:1-6

Wednesday   Exodus 3:1-10

Thursday        Exodus 3:11-20

Friday             Exodus 4:1-17

Saturday         Luke 2:1-20

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, help us in this Advent season to remember how you come and use such unexpected people.   In the name of Jesus, AMEN.

Reading:

Christ's kingly lineage was traced back from Joseph, the husband of Mary, through David's kingly line, to Israel's celebrated forefather, Abraham, through whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed. They were to be blessed by Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father who was full of grace and truth.

Jesus was not begotten of Joseph, although he became His legal, earthly father. Jesus was the only begotten Son of His Father in heaven. He had come to seek and to save that which was lost and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Like all young Jewish couples, the betrothal of Mary and Joseph was as binding as the final marriage contact, and during those early days of their engagement, like all young people, they were to remain chaste and pure as they waited for the day when they would be fully and finally united as husband and wife, and their marriage union would be consummated.

Imagine Joseph's bitter anguish of heart when, following an extended visit to her cousin, his beautiful bride returned home and was discovered to be pregnant. The child that she was carrying was certainly not his own, biological son, for we read: "They had not yet come together." They had not yet consummated their union in the marriage bed.

It was by the power of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the eternal Godhead, through Whom this mysterious conception was to be accomplished, for the Holy Ghost was to come upon her and the power of the Most High was to overshadow her so that the baby that was to be born to Mary would be holy: "And they would call Him Immanuel, which means 'God with us."

The Lord Jesus was conceived not of flesh, nor of the will of man, nor from the physical seed of Joseph, the husband of Mary. He was the only begotten Son of the Father: "And He was to be called the Son of God."

https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/matthew-1-18