November 19, 2014

Matthew 1: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”).

 Matthew gives us a lot of information about the early life of Jesus. We get the genealogy and the story of the virgin birth. Joseph is a good man, so when he discovered his fiancee is pregnant, he makes plans to divorce her quietly. This was the most honorable move he could make. Then an angel appears with these words, and Joseph and Mary obediently follow God's plan.

 I chose this because Bill Maher challenged the virgin birth as ridiculous on his last show. I really didn't see how that is so far-fetched in a world with lots of babies conceived by artificial insemination and even in vitro. That is done by man. And the angels and God were in charge of the Messiah's birth. God was with them, and they felt that. It motivated their actions through the birth, the flight to Egypt and their decision to locate in Nazareth on their return. God is with me, too, and he can be with anyone, even Bill Maher, if only one opens his or her heart.

 Prayer: God, be with me. I will praise Your goodness for eternity. I will bow down to worship Your son like the Wise Men did. I will follow Your call like Mary and Joseph did. And nothing I will ever do will make me worthy of the gift of faith You have given me. Amen