Advent Devotion for November 28th, the second day of Advent

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, into my life and into the life of Your world.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:20-21.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared 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. 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.

Devotional: As a responsible person, Joseph planned how he was to deal with this totally unanticipated situation. Surely he tried to consider the welfare of all involved or concerned. But after thinking about his and Mary's situation, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and affirmed the astounding reality that the child conceived in Mary's womb is from the Holy Spirit. Therefore he is to refuse to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, and at the birth of the child, Joseph is to give Him the name, Jesus, for this Child will save people from sin.

So the responsibility of managing this situation and all concerned in this is taken away from Joseph and assumed by God. At the same time this is probably a relief to Joseph, but also a terrifying prospect that Joseph and Mary are being used by God as no other human beings have ever been used.

It is one thing to assume, whether true or not, that the individual is in control and responsible to manage self and the historical situation. It is quite another thing to realize, accept and act in accordance with the will of Almighty God. This is true for Joseph and Mary. It is also true for the lives of all God's creatures.

Of course, we must act responsibly, but the bottom line reality for each and all of us is that God is God, and we are not. Our part then in this life is not to run the show or the enterprise, but to seek to discern and to live out of God's Will and management.

In this sense, the story of these two young people is the story of  us all. If we seek to conform our lives to God's Will, there is absolutely no need to “be afraid”.

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus.