Matthew 1:20-23. 20 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. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us).
Joseph had to be confused. The story Mary was telling must have made no sense to him whatsoever. Especially coming from an upstanding girl like her. Why this story? Why now? All his plans were in place. Get betrothed. Build the house. Start the business. Get married. THEN make babies and live happily ever after.
Before the angel appeared, Joseph thought he had all the information he was going to get. Mary’s side of the story was all he knew. And he considered her story over and over, deciding to end their engagement compassionately and move on with his life. But when the angel arrived, Joseph’s eyes were opened to a whole new level of reality. New truths about God’s role in Mary’s pregnancy – that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Truths about who this baby would be – he will save his people from their sins. And the greatest of truths in all of history – God with us.
God with us. These three little words are everything. They’re the whole point. They’re the goal of all history. They are God’s great redemption plan. They are our salvation.
God in his great grace has chosen to break into time and space and enter our earthly reality – the incarnation. You might think that God with us would just add to our confusion. The supernatural? Miracles? Virgin births? God in the flesh?
But God with us never increases our confusion, it always dispels it. It shines light into our darkness. God with us answers all of our questions.
Where does life come from?
What is the meaning of life?
Why do we exist?
What is love?
How can we live forever?
How will we all be saved from ourselves?
How does God feel about us?
How can there be forgiveness and yet justice?
How can Jesus die for the sins of humanity?
What happens to us when we die?
What questions do you have about life today? About God? About yourself? God with us answers each of them.
And here’s the best part – the answers to the biggest questions in life are also the answers to the ever day questions of life. When we know WHY we exist, we then know HOW to exist. When we know the love of God with us, then we know how to love others.
Isn’t this exactly what happened with Joseph? His immediate questions of what to do about Mary were answered by the immeasurable answer of God with us. What would move Joseph past his self-protection and law keeping into a life of self-sacrifice and grace? What would allow him to choose the impossible – marrying Mary and raising the Son of God? God with us that’s what.
God’s answer to Joseph is the same answer that we have all heard. God with us is now “to live is Christ.” The end of all our confusion. The answer to all of life’s questions.
You
What in your life is confusing to you? What about God is confusing to you?
You in Christ
How can God with us, begin to remove all your confusion?
Christ in you
What is one specific response you should have today knowing that God is with us as Christ in us?
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Playlist: God With Us.
Click Here to this playlist on Spotify!
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To see today’s post from the TLIC Family blog –> Click here
To Live is Christ 