Advent · Day 22 · Sunday, December 20
Do not be afraid, Joseph
But while he was turning this over in his mind, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to receive Mary as your wife, because it is by the Holy Spirit that the child has been conceived in her. She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, for he is the one who will save his people from their sins.”
Joseph had a plan. Mary was pregnant, and the child was not his. He decided to end the engagement quietly, to spare her shame (Matthew 1:19).
Then an angel came to him in a dream: do not be afraid. Take Mary home. Name the child Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. The name means “the Lord saves.”
Joseph woke up and did what the angel said (Matthew 1:24). The Bible records no word Joseph ever spoke. It records what he did. Sometimes faithfulness is quiet and costly, and no one else sees it.
Pray
God who saves, give me Joseph’s quiet courage. When obeying you costs me, help me do it anyway. Amen.
Carry it today
What quiet, costly thing might God be asking of you?
Fourth Sunday of Advent: tonight, light the love candle. The Advent candles