December 20

Scripture Reading

Matthew 1:20-23

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.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Devotion

A contemplation on the angelic visitation to Joseph. For all those who are facing impossibilities this Advent Season.

But as he considered these things,

And I wondered, how?

that which seems to be another man? A bastard child? A sham?

And the shame that will descend,

Upon me, on her, was it sin?, OH our kin, I wept.

behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,

Then, a messenger arrived in the most intimate chambers of my most vulnerable state, sleep.

Behold a visitor, and I beheld.

The sleep sent one sent to render the unconscious sentient, seen,

To open closed eyes, drawn by night, shut by sight

In my unconscious state.

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.

Then a spoken word, unexpected, inherent to the dream,

fear not to take her, to make her your wife- proceed.

For that which is conceived is not of flesh but Spirit sown seed,

Behold a holy heaven-inhabited womb with a child son by another man? Yes, I AM.

by the Ancient of Days, spoken from ancient days,

Salvation from our sin has arrived. His name is Jesus.

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

The old prophet saw her, held her in his mind’s eye, a just dream, penned the words that the virgin shall conceive,

An unthinkable paradox from an unimaginable place,

Dawned by heaven’s gate, that God arrived NOT unseen but in flesh.

And I woke and was awakened, I saw once before but now I see.

Our most vulnerable states of impossibility are birth spaces where the Holy breaks in.

To a husband, wife, and a child.

Where we are most confused and alone with our shame is where Redemption finds us,

God is with us.

Reflection

1. In contemplating Joseph’s angelic visitation, what did the Lord illuminate to you?

2. How does it change how you view God or your situation?

3. What has transpired that feels daunting or impossible in this season?

4. What have you endured or are enduring that you hope the Lord will redeem?

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Notes

Song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel, for King & Country.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.