Friday, December 15, 2017

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 December 15

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:18-21).

Today’s Morsel: How would you like to have been Joseph?  What do you think you would have done differently than him?  I think most of us would have been just as perplexed as he was when he got the news no matter who it came from or how spiritual we may think we are. What about being Mary?  Go tell the guy you are to be married to that you are pregnant and not by him, but of the Holy Ghost.  Talk about anger in the camp.  Who would believe such a story?  It took divine intervention for Joseph to believe and it will take the same for us to believe it, too.  I think more than anything, this miraculous story is all about faith.  Both Mary and Joseph had to believe to bring to fruition what the angel said, and so do we.  Jesus said, “Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:23-24).  As the angel told Joseph, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” The first step to understanding the miraculous birth is belief, and the first step to salvation believing.

Sing:  I believe God, I believe God, that He will do just as He says; Trust and obey, believe Him and say, I believe, I believe God.

Thought for today: The first step to salvation is belief (Parker)

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