Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:57-64
Ps 119:57-64 Heth
You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts. The earth is filled with your love, O Lord; teach me your decrees.
Matt 1:18-19
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Since Joseph was not the “real” father of Jesus, we often just ignore him and fail to see what is said about him. He was a righteous man. There are not many people in the Bible that have this term applied to them. From what little we know about Joseph; we see that he wanted to do the will of God. This meant that he was concerned with what the Law said but he wanted to apply it in a way that did not bring public disgrace to his fiancé, Mary. He wanted to do the right thing.
Joseph was concerned about who he was, in relationship to his people, but also in his relationship to God. As a child of God, he was to follow the law of God. He had been taught by parents who loved the Lord and who had raised him to do the same. Being in the lineage of David was no small thing. By this time in history, so many of the Jewish people could not trace their lineage to a particular tribe, let alone to a particular person. Although poor, he was rich in heritage.
He was descended from David and descended from Abraham! This gave him a special place among the Jews, but it was his lifestyle and his heart that made him special to God. He was chosen from all of the people alive to become the “father” of the promised Messiah. What an awesome responsibility!
O Lord, thank you for being my Father. Thank you for giving me Jesus to be my brother and my friend. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your family. I know that I have failed you in so many ways, but I also know that you count me as righteous by the blood of Jesus, my Redeemer. Help me live in such a way that my lifestyle is seen as righteous and that it will bring glory to you. Use me to help others live for you. Be with those who are battling cancer and other grave diseases and give them your healing if it is your will. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
