January 3

Read Matthew 1:20-25

OBSERVATION: WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY?

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[a] because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[b] (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

[a] Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.

[b] Isaiah 7:14

INTERPRETATION: WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN?

APPLICATION: HOW SHOULD THIS AFFECT ME?

POWER IN PREPARATION: In what way does this passage reveal that even before His birth, Jesus was prepared for His earthly ministry? How did God prepare you before you were born?