Scripture to Read: Matthew 1:20
If you’re reading this on the accurate date, “Merry Christmas.” God is sovereign (in absolute charge and control to carry out His perfect will) in all things (Philippians 2:13). God knew the heart of Joseph, so He sent an angel to speak to Joseph in a dream. We read in Matthew 1:20, “But when he had considered this, be- hold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spir- it.’” We are not sure if it was the angel Gabriel, again, because God did not tell us. The angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because the child in her womb was there by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s hard to imagine God speaking to us through an angel, but that’s what He did. Why doesn’t God do that with us today? God has given us the complete revelation of Himself through His Holy Spirit in us and through His Holy Word. We don’t need an angel from God because we have Him living in us, working through us to carry out His perfect will. To hear God, we must choose to fellowship with Him through prayer and reading, studying, and memorizing His Word. God loves us so much that He gave us everything we need to grow in Him (2 Peter 1:3–4). But, just like Joseph, we must choose to fellowship with Him and to walk in obedience to Him.
Challenge & Application
• Why do we think we need more than God has already given us? (See 2 Peter 1:3–4 for more help.)
• What must you do to avoid being distracted by the things of this world so that you hear God clearly each day?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!