Messengers Part One: December 21, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 21.

MESSENGERS
PART ONE

Defined by Webster:
One who bears a message.

This is CHRISTMAS week. For several weeks now we have looked at words and subjects to prepare us for the CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS on Christmas day. This week we look at the messengers that God used to bring His Son into this world. Today we look at Mary and Joseph.


GODS WORD

Here are some excerpts from Luke 1: 26-35 that deal with the role of Mary and Joseph on the birth of Jesus: “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel said to Mary, rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. The Holy Spirit shall come upon you and the power of the highest will overshadow you; therefore also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

WORDS BY KEN AND DOTTIE

Jesus was unique in His birth. He was born of a virgin. The angel came to Mary at her home in Nazareth and announced to her that she was going to have a baby. She was a young girl, most likely a teenager. She was a good Jewish girl raised to have a strong faith in God. Mary was troubled and confused. She said to the angel: “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” Even though it is thought that she was engaged to marry Joseph she was very clear to the angel that no man had touched her so how could she have a baby? This is mind boggling even to us today because it is impossible.

The angel explained that Mary’s child would be conceived by the Holy Spirit, and that He would be the Son of God and therefore both God and man. The angel went on to say: “FOR WITH GOD NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.” Then Mary responded by saying to the angel: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel left. The virgin birth of Jesus is essential to the Christian faith and because Jesus was conceived from the Holy Spirit He was born without any trace of sin.

A few months prior the scripture tells us in Luke 2 that ‘a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Everyone had to return to their own city (city of birth). Joseph went from Galilee into Judea with Mary, his betrothed wife who was with child, to Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David.

It was prophesied in Micah 5:2 that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. It is interesting to note that God uses those who do not know Him to accomplish His purposes. God used Caesar Augustus to issue the decree that would bring Mary and Joseph to the right place at the right time.

It is from this location in Bethlehem that the excitement of that first Christmas took place. For years we have eagerly anticipated the excitement of Christmas in our lives. We have looked forward to the Christmas pageants in our church and always looked to other churches so we could enjoy theirs as well. We enjoy for at least a month before Christmas listening to Christmas music. In the car, at our house or wherever we are, Christmas music is always important to us.

We have told you before that it is a tradition in our family on Christmas Eve, now with our six children, their spouses and 20 grand children to have our own Christmas pageant. We have the costumes, the “fake” animals and the grand children play the roles. Each year the most wanted roles are Mary and Joseph. Christmas just would not be the same without this family pageant where we are all reminded from the scripture what happened that Christmas morning in the manger in Bethlehem.

The next two days we will share some thoughts on the shepherds and the star, two other messengers used by God to help us celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas day.

EACH WEEK WE HAVE A NEW VERSE TO MEMORIZE

This week let us all memorize together what the
angels said to the shepherds some 2000 years ago:

“GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL,
TOWARD MEN.” LUKE 2:14

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

Thank you for the excitement in our hearts as we prepare for the celebration that we will have this Christmas. Help us to learn the significance of each person that served as one of Your messengers that first Christmas. Thank You for sending Your Son to be born and then to die paying the penalty for my sins.