Monday, December 23, 2013

2013 Jesse Tree: NT Joseph

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25
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Event/Theme: Joseph
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Symbol we use: Lighthouse ornament. Because Joseph was asked to guide and protect his little family through dangerous situations.
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Meditation: The Bible says little about Joseph. Yet nearly every time it mentions him, he is being visited by an angel in his dream. He very clearly knows the angel is real, and from God, for each time he gets up and obeys. These aren't little, easy commands like "Smile at a stranger today" but life-changing events like "God's commandment to stone a woman to death doesn't apply in this situation" or "Flee for your lives with the woman and her Child". Do you ever wish, like me, that an angel would spell out so clearly what we should do when we're faced with difficult decisions? Long before he discovered Mary's pregnancy, Joseph was "faithful to the law", "a just man", "a good man", "a righteous man". I suspect that part of the reason he was able to recognize and trust the angel immediately was the prior cultivation of a deep faith in God. If we want the results Joseph benefited from (clear, distinct direction in his life on which path he should take), we should try the means he used to get there (faithful obedience to the Lord in all areas of his life). I don't know anyone who has admitted to nighttime angelic visits, but I do know people confident in the difficult decisions they make. When asked how they can be so sure what God wants them to do, you can be certain their response always begins with a long-standing, deep, cultivated faith in Him.
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Jesse Tree Week 1: The Patriarchs
Sunday: Root of Jesse
Monday: Creation
Tuesday: Fall of Mankind
Wednesday: Noah
Thursday: Abraham
Friday: Isaac
Saturday: Jacob
Jesse Tree Week 2: The Formation of a People Set Apart
Sunday: Joseph
Monday: Moses
Tuesday: Israelites at Mt. Sinai
Wednesday: Joshua
Thursday: Gideon
Friday: Ruth
Saturday: Samuel
Jesse Tree Week 3: The Formation of a Nation Set Apart
Sunday: King David
Monday: Elijah
Tuesday: Isaiah
Wednesday: Jeremiah
Thursday: Daniel
Friday: Nehemiah
Saturday: Jonah
Jesse Tree Week 4: Christ Jesus is Almost Here!
Sunday: Mary
Monday: Joseph
Tuesday: Shepherds
Wednesday: Merry Christmas!

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