Esther shares her thought for the week; three more sleeps.
Just three more sleeps before the biggest birthday celebration ever!
On December 25th, a child was born, not just any child, but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! His mother’s name was Mary.
Now, I’m not one for gossip, but (whispering) Mary was a single woman. Who was the father? You might ask. Well… Mary was also a virgin. I mean, honestly, you could have knocked me down with a feather!
How on earth did that happen?
And if that wasn’t weird enough, she gave birth in an inn, surely she should have been giving birth somewhere like St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, where the Princess of Wales had her children… and certainly not laying her baby in a manger! Someone so special deserves to be treated like royalty!
So I got to thinking… and decided to look into this miraculous story and find out a bit more about the father.
His name was Joseph, and he was engaged to Mary; they were preparing for marriage. But when Joseph discovered that Mary was expecting a child, and knowing she was still a virgin, you can imagine his shock! He didn’t want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to end the engagement quietly.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said:
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
So what was Joseph’s part in all this?
Joseph was called to exercise faith in one of the most difficult and confusing circumstances imaginable. He was asked to trust God even when the situation made no rational sense.
Here’s what God did for Joseph:
- God reminded Joseph of his identity, who he was in God’s plan. In Ephesians 1:18-19, we are reminded of the confident hope believers have and the incredible power God offers to those who trust in Him.
- God reassured Joseph that he didn’t need to be afraid and that He would guide him.
- God confirmed that He was at work, even though Joseph couldn’t yet see the whole picture.
When you know God is in control, you gain peace of mind and a new perspective.
As Christians, we hold onto this truth: That knowledge gives us contentment even when life feels uncertain or confusing.
So as you enjoy the festivities this Christmas, remember the true meaning of it all, the miraculous birth of Jesus, our Saviour and King.
Every week one of our members shares a short thought aiming to inspire you for the week. You can watch previous Thought For The Week videos by clicking here.