A Son, Conceived by the Holy Spirit
Scripture reading for April 6th: Matthew 1, Psalm 69, Proverbs 7
Matthew 1:18-22 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
As we begin the Gospel of Matthew, one of the twelve apostles, he included a genealogy of Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, showing Jesus’ promised link to Abraham and King David. Matthew was a Jew and wrote this Gospel primarily to help his Jewish people understand God’s promises through Moses and the Prophets and their fulfilment in Jesus Christ and His virgin birth. In this passage, Matthew describes how Joseph found Mary to be pregnant during their betrothal. He was an honorable man and was going to divorce her quietly, but an angel gave him instructions, explaining His conception through the Holy Spirit. A Son would be born, and the Name given: Jesus. This Son would save God’s people from their sins. What a blessed privilege and a joy to obey must have come over Joseph! Also, he had a great responsibility and much suffering as he walked out this Holy Spirit assignment.
Psalm 69:22-23 “I will also praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which You have redeemed.”
Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for Your amazing plan of salvation! I am humbled that You would send Your Son to earth as a human man on our behalf, to save us from sin’s shame and ultimate penalty of eternal separation from You. I shout for joy and sing Your praises for the redemption of my soul and all who will believe and receive. Open doors for me to share, even today, this Good News! Amen!
Proverbs 7:1-3 “My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”
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