SUNDAY - 25TH DECEMBER, 2022
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola & Oreoluwa ADEJUMO
JESUS' BIRTH WAS IN THIS WISE
Read Mattew 1:18-25
Matthew 1:18, KJV
"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."
When the Bible says, "the birth of Jesus was on this wise", what did you understand that to be? If something is in this wise, it means it's not in another way and can't be told and shouldn't be told another way round. What that therefore means is that any strange, inconsistent narration offered you about the birth of Jesus that's not in mutuality with the tellings in the Bible (for instance the synoptic gospels) should not be believed. The reason is simple, the birth of notable people are usually contested and Jesus' is so important to us that we must adhere to the fact that Jesus' birth is in this wise and not another way round. There's no human being who doesn't have a biography and the biography of great people especially reveal a lot about them and the circumstances around their birth. Many great people had strange things happen round their birth. It may be pre-birth, at birth or post birth but something unusual is a marker to their uniqueness and at times how great their destiny would be on earth. Jesus' was not an exception. Apart from the prophecies that generations have been expecting on tiptoes to be fulfilled, at fulfilment, Jesus was born of a virgin and without a natural father. Jesus' birth was sinless therefore though Mary like any other woman must at one time or the other have stumbled at sin yet remains a righteous or holy sister like any of us today. The truth however is that, "through one man sin entered the world" and so death spread to "all men" (Rom.5:12). That verse does not say through "one man and one woman" sin entered the world. Sin entered the world through Adam, not through Eve. It was Adam who passed sin on to their downlines. And since Jesus had no natural father, it couldn't have been concluded sin was passed to Jesus since God (the sinless one was His Father and He was the One who gave Him His life). That truth must not be exchanged for another from you. Jesus' birth was sinless and Jesus is! We must know "that God made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Cor.5:21, KJV). Other references are I Peter 2:22 and I John 3:5.
Jesus' birth was an exception. So, when the account in Matthew says, "Jesus' birth happened in a particular way, you should immediately know that there'll be contest on the way the Bible specifically says Jesus' birth happened." Till date, there are still rumours and strong talks of mockery in many circles that Jesus was not born of a virgin and that Jesus was not sinless. Their reasoning is, "how could a woman be impregnated by a divine presence when we know that it's only through intercourse such could happen." They may not receive the Bible's witness that Mary was engaged to Joseph and found to be pregnant "with child of the Holy Ghost." Being pregnant with child of the Holy Ghost means Joseph was not His biological father and that Joseph didn't have intercourse with Mary until after Jesus' birth. God set Jesus in a family so He could grow in a normal home like any other balanced child. God needed the support of a male figure who'll stabilize Mary, save her from any disgrace and questioning of where she got the pregnancy from inorder to raise Jesus up. God's plan for a home where any child would grow up is not that of a single parent. If God had wanted single parenting, since Joseph didn't impregnate Mary, God would have made it possible for Mary to be on her own but the concept of two coming together as husband and wife still had to be put into consideration for so many reasons.
In this account, Joseph though a righteous man couldn't take it in finding Mary pregnant. He was contemplating letting her go secretly when the Owner and Master of his soul came to Him and persuaded him to take Mary because that which is in her is "of the Holy Ghost." Today, I'm sensing you might miss the honour God wants to do you if you're not let into what His plans have been and is. If Joseph had not been convinced by the Lord to take Mary by telling him the origin of her pregnancy, Joseph would have successfully detached from Mary let alone take her as his wife. In so doing, Joseph would not enter into the annals of history as Jesus' step father who supported and prepared a room for Him to grow in on earth. He'll also not witness what it means to have a special, unique and Saviour of the world as child under his custody. I believe Jesus did so many signs at home that only the parents would have known about. If not, Mary wouldn't meet Jesus afore His first miracle in John 2 to help the couples because they have no wine. If they have no wine, they obviously know where to buy but what was Mary believing for? A miracle, an intervention. She must have seen enough of that at home to have been assured. No one comes out daring the mighty if there has not been any secret testimony or record afore time. I therefore found out that there's nothing God is doing above that He doesn't need the partnering of men for below. God, this is my own cry. What package have you secretly wroth somewhere that I don't know about? The package that should delight me and bring me into reference with heaven and earth, may it not be the one I'll be infuriated at. May I not have missed it before coming to the knowledge of your honour and plan to include me in something great You have planned dating thousands of years back which are now beginning to unfold in my own time and day.
People of God, Joseph almost missed being Jesus' step father. He almost. Another would have been even if after that angel's persuasion Joseph was too jealous to see reasons. If he had not believed that Mary's pregnancy was Holy Spirit's wroth, it would have been to his undoing. While the birth of Jesus gave us an introduction of Jesus as sacrifice for humanity and yet provided us with many hallmarks beliefs in Christianity, yet I'll like to say, "unreasonable things might happen in your day around you, rather learn why and from where as to know which to join and not detach from." Our Saviour was born today, as we recline in this great tiding of great joy, may every broken bones in you receive joy. May your valleys and every area of depression be exalted. May your joy be full by the provision of what can bring your joy to fullness. Hearing Jesus' birth, there was cause for happiness, celebration and pilgrimage. You're the next to be celebrated and visited for confirmation of the miraculous God will do and has done. God has spoken and it's so.
PRAYER: Let me experience the commemoration of today henceforth. Find me worthy to partner with on Your great acts on earth.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Daniel 6:1-28; 2 Peter 3:1-18; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 28:21-22
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