A Christmas Devotional

Using these Bible verses of the Christmas story, we have a wonderful insight into what was going on in Joseph. We also have a wonderful insight into what God wanted Joseph to do in life. In this dream sequence, the angel delivered to Joseph the message of not being afraid, probably because Joseph was afraid of the public ridicule that would be heaped upon both himself and upon Mary as a result of the Immaculate Conception. Joseph needed the Lord's encouragement to forego any public ridicule and to do only what God wanted done. Each of us, in our life, must also forego any public ridicule connected to our faith and we must only do what God wants us to do. As Christians, we are not called to go the way of the crowd. As Christians, we are called to stand apart and we are called to be examples in our conduct, language, thoughts, and in the workings of our heart. What must not be lost upon us is how from the moment of Christ's conception, dark forces began to pound down upon Mary and Joseph. In the dream, the angel addresses these dark forces impinging upon Joseph. The angel told Joseph to not be afraid. What must not be lost here is Jesus was not born into some kind of perfect and sterile social environment. Jesus was not born into a perfect family of wealth and power with no worldly problems. As we shall see later in the story of His birth, Jesus was not even born into a perfect environment of a home, except a home for animals. Within a short time after His birth, the dark forces of the world will force Mary and Joseph to flee for their lives into Egypt. In your life, there are many things not perfect. However, if you will follow Christ, all those imperfections can be made into things perfect in His love and grace.