Bible Studies

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The Gospels
Matthew 1:18-25 - A Love That Dreams Are Made Of
Key Verses: (NCV)

• 18: "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was engaged to marry Joseph, but before they married, she learned she was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Matthew begins his testimony by establishing that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine.
  
  
• 19: "While Joseph thought about these things, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream…" - Joseph was faced with a heart-wrenching and perplexing problem. His love for Mary and his desire to do the right thing had him leaning towards choosing a quiet divorce over public humiliation. And yet he pondered: was there a third option?
  
  
• 21: "She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." - The angel unveils the critical role Joseph will play in the future of humanity.
  
  
• 24: "When Joseph woke up, he did what the Lord's angel had told him to do…" - He saw. He heard. He listened. And he obeyed.
  

Points to Contemplate:

• Do you feel loved by God? Do you feel His love when you gaze upon a beautiful sunset or on a delicate flower? Do you remember His love when you hear a certain carol or special song? What about those exceptional moments you recall spending with friends and family that bring joy and happiness into your heart? Are these expressions of God's love? Think of all the times in your life when you have felt the love of God. Do any of your experiences compare to the wonder that Matthew is describing in these verses? Do you realize that God brought His holy and perfect son into the world for you to behold? Do you know that He loves you so much that He willingly gave you His only son? Do you feel loved by God?
  
  
• Are you pondering? In the midst of disappointment and hurt feelings Joseph faced some very difficult decisions. What should he do with Mary? How should he act? What of the plans they had made? What will the families think? Should I be angry? Should she be punished? Scorned? Ridiculed? Killed? What should a decent man do? You could probably recite the litany of questions going through his mind that entire night. Sleep most likely did not come easily. But then God sent an angel… Do you seek God's council in difficult situations or are you more concerned what others might think? Do you wait, pray, and ponder all courses of action including the ones God would have you do? Or do you let your emotions burst forth causing regrets and ill-will? Do you seek God's council? Do you listen to what He has to say?
  
  
• Are you awake and ready to act? Joseph woke from his dream and did what the angel told him to do. After listening and pondering, do you take the actions God has inspired you to take? What would have happened that very first Christmas if Joseph had chosen to ignore God's message? Can the decisions of one man upset the plans of God? What is the impact on your life and on the lives around you when you choose to ignore God's guidance? What amazing moment in the kingdom of heaven awaits your decision to wake up and do what God wants you to do?
  

Promises of the Gospel:

On this final Sunday in Advent, we light the Candle of Love because God loves the world with such tender care that He chose to break down the walls to heaven so we could gaze upon the perfection and glory available to us all. God is not remote and removed. He gave us His Son to prove that He lives here, with us and in us, close by and available at all times. He took His beloved, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and said, "here, gaze on this, and know that I love you." Just as Joseph pondered how to react to this news, we too, have much to consider. We have lives filled with options. We can gaze upon the glory of God revealed in a manger this Christmas and know we are loved. The choice is ours. Are we to accept this, the greatest act of love, and return to our lives unchanged and untouched? Or, will we choose to experience God's love, listen to His Word, invite His Spirit into our hearts, and go out into the world to build the kingdom that only He can inspire? Now is the time to wake up and do what the Lord is telling us to do.

FUMC Devotionals

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