Here recounts the time of Joseph where the Lord appeared to him in a dream. Joseph was told in no uncertain terms that he, his wife and newborn needed to get out of town, pronto!

Interestingly Joseph did what he was told as soon as he woke up. He didn’t take time to think about it, he didn’t ask all and sundry what they thought he should do either. He heard and he acted.

We have the benefit of knowing the outcome, but Joseph didn’t nor did Mary.

Have you ever wondered how you might respond if you were in Joseph and Mary’s position?

Sometimes I think and even ask God for a neon flashing sign to help me make the right decision or to know which way to go. But, alas I haven’t had that yet. But what I do have is His Spirit and past experience of trusting God and never being let down.

Joseph had already had an amazing visit which told him about the impending birth of Jesus to Mary. That came true. The visitors, Shepherds and Magi, told of their experience of angels and receiving the Good News and that too came to pass.

So when Joseph is visited in a dream and told to take the next steps, he has some experience to draw on. However, Joseph still had the choice to make—to follow in obedience and trust, although not understanding or knowing everything or risk it, ignore the message and stay put.

Joseph and Mary must have had their dreams of marrying and living together forever and maybe a family down the track. Yet suddenly everything seems to fall apart. But does it? No. Why? Because they are in God’s plan for them.

Here’s a great reminder to us all, particularly as we evaluate the New Year and what it might hold for us. Are we looking to God’s leading, allowing His Holy Spirit to speak to our heart? We may not have vivid dreams, we may not hear an audible voice, or we may not even have angels visit us, but if we are in tune with Him and seek His will for us we can be blessed.

Will everything go swimmingly just because we are doing what God want’s us to? Probably not. (It wasn’t exactly easy for Mary and Joseph). That is because we are still in the world. However we can rely on God’s peace, comfort, guidance, wisdom, love, grace and strength. He will sustain us.

There are so many verses of Scripture where God reminds us of this, here is just two.

Ps 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved”

Col 1:17 “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together”.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, remind me of Your Words I ask as I make choices each day. I pray that you would help me to boldly allow Holy Spirt to work in my life. When I become overwhelmed with decisions that are placed before me, please give me the peace that surpasses all understanding. Clear my mind to follow You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me grow in the fruit of the Spirit and so walk closer with You. I pray for guidance from your Spirit- let your will and promises always be a meditation of my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

— Matthew 1:21

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Names in the Bible were truly significant because they often told us something about the person. This is particularly true of God whose many names are of utmost significance—every name of God in the Bible reveals something about Him.

When the angel visited Joseph, we read that Joseph was instructed to name the baby, Jesus. Whilst ‘Jesus’ is a fairly common Jewish name, it comes with huge significance.

‘Jesus’ is an English rendering of the Greek name Iēsous, which is a translation of the ancient Hebrew Yehoshua. This name is formed from Hebrew roots signifying “Jehovah is salvation”

The name Jesus is also significant because of who it represents—it means “God our Saviour”. Jesus Christ is Immanuel “God with us”.

Jesus name was chosen for Him by God.

Jesus’ name was a constant reminder of what God was going to accomplish.

The name Jesus reminds us about the amazing humility of the Son of God when he came as a man to die. As His followers, we must also strive to show the same selfless humility that Jesus demonstrated while on earth.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” ([Philippians 2:5–8](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Phil%202.5%E2%80%938))

However, Jesus is not just a name of unmatched humility; it is also a name of infinite exaltation. His name is glorified far above every other name:

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” ([Philippians 2:9–11](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Phil%202.9%E2%80%9311); cf. [Acts 4:12](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Acts%204.12))

Praise the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our awesome Saviour!

— Luke 2:8:16

“A Spiritual Time”.

You may be aware of the quote by French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin..

“We are not humans having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience”

Sometimes we forget this. We get caught up in ‘life’ we often forget our actual purpose and the fact that ‘it’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.” Eph 1:1 TM

The Shepherds, as we read in Luke 2 were just living out their daily duties until they un-expectantly had quite the spiritual time.

We may not have angels visit us, as the shepherds did but we can have that amazing spirit filled experience. Even better, if we allow it, it is not a one time event, it’s a wonderful relationship that blesses every day.

The angels announced that the Saviour of the world has been born. This baby is the Messiah, Jesus the Christ the Son of the living God.

It is in Christ and only in Him that we find our identity and can have that spiritual connection we are all seeking.

We may think we know best, but God knows everything about us. He made you to love you and to give you purpose, one that only you can fulfil. We cannot find that identity in others, our job, our hobby or accomplishments or causes, if we try, we will only be disappointed.

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and committed to following Him, why wait any longer?

Perhaps you are not feeling particularly spiritual; it may be time to evaluate how much you let Jesus in?

If you are following Jesus, then let’s join with the angels and praise God…

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests”

Luke 2:14 NIV

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me and giving me the opportunity to accept You. I confess my sin, and I believe that You are my Saviour. I receive You into every aspect of my life as my Lord. I turn everything over to You. Jesus, I want to use the rest of my life to serve You instead of serving myself, I commit to You and ask You to show me my purpose and accept me into your family. In Your name I pray, AMEN.