1 THE INVASION OF PLANET EART F O O T ================================

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READING

1 THE INVASION OF PLANET EARTH

PRAY Thank you for the Bible, Lord God; please help me to see the point today —————————————————————– READ Matthew 1:18-25 —————————————————————– THINK What does this story tell us about God and his ways? —————————————————————– FOCUS The first Christmas was an invasion – an invasion in which the living God himself came into our world. Mary and Joseph were engaged – they did not yet live together as man and wife, but they had entered into a binding union that could only be ended in those days by divorce. Then horrors; Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant. THE PAIN OF OBEDIENCE (18-20). Few things hurt more than to be wrongfully doubted. What pain it must have caused Mary to see the doubt and disappointment in Joseph’s eyes. There must have been some apprehension too, for they would have known that Joseph could bring her into public disrepute if he wished. The fact that he decided against this (19) gives us some indication of his character. THE PROMISE OF THE AGES (20-23). Joseph had decided to divorce Mary quietly, but God’s angel uncovered the truth of the situation to him. What a marvellous moment when Joseph heard Mary vindicated and realised that God’s plans had come to a climax in the child she would bear. THE COURAGE OF COMMITMENT (24,25). Various remarks in the lifetime of Jesus leave little doubt that the story of Mary’s pregnancy was known, and a subject of gossip. It took courage to do as Joseph did and obey the Lord. God still wants those who will do as they are commanded. Put yourself in the shoes of Mary and Joseph. How would you have reacted?

PRAY Ask God to help you do what he wants.