Today is Monday, December 23, 2019 and here is your Daily Devo.
For many today, the Christmas story evokes all kinds of warmth and glee. But for Joseph, the coming of the promised Christ meant great heartache (Matt. 1:18-19), great loss to his reputation and comfort (Matt. 1:20-21), and great danger (Matt. 2:13-14). The first Christmas was no jolly sleigh ride for the man who resolved to obey God at all costs.
Isn’t that how following Christ often feels—confounding and painful, thankless and marginalizing? We seek to live for God and then we face hardships due to our decision. We may know of Jesus’ promise that we will experience trouble in this life (John 16:33), yet the pain of a new or lingering trial always feels like a shock. Grief has a way of making us feel abandoned and condemned. Yet at the crossroads of our brokenness and faith, God is at work to sanctify us and to use us for His glory in ways we could never imagine. You may see this truth in Joseph’s life, but do you believe it for your own?
Think about this: Do we tend to think that following Jesus will result in an easy and carefree life? Why or why not? How does the promise of Jesus, as Immanuel, help you to see difficulties in a different perspective?
Thank you for listening to the Daily Devo. Please send me a comment, like, or share the Daily Devo. It helps others to get the Daily Devo. Also, please connect with us on Facebook at Central Baptist Church - Maysville, KY. This way you can stay up to date on everything going on at Central Baptist.
