Let your light shine..	Daily Inspirations Matt. 7:8 "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

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A Christmas Devotional

Using these Bible verses of the Christmas story, we have a wonderful insight into what was going on in Joseph. We also have a wonderful insight into what God wanted Joseph to do in life. In this dream sequence, the angel delivered to Joseph the message of not being afraid, probably because Joseph was afraid of the public ridicule that would be heaped upon both himself and upon Mary as a result of the Immaculate Conception. Joseph needed the Lord's encouragement to forego any public ridicule and to do only what God wanted done. Each of us, in our life, must also forego any public ridicule connected to our faith and we must only do what God wants us to do. As Christians, we are not called to go the way of the crowd. As Christians, we are called to stand apart and we are called to be examples in our conduct, language, thoughts, and in the workings of our heart. What must not be lost upon us is how from the moment of Christ's conception, dark forces began to pound down upon Mary and Joseph. In the dream, the angel addresses these dark forces impinging upon Joseph. The angel told Joseph to not be afraid. What must not be lost here is Jesus was not born into some kind of perfect and sterile social environment. Jesus was not born into a perfect family of wealth and power with no worldly problems. As we shall see later in the story of His birth, Jesus was not even born into a perfect environment of a home, except a home for animals. Within a short time after His birth, the dark forces of the world will force Mary and Joseph to flee for their lives into Egypt. In your life, there are many things not perfect. However, if you will follow Christ, all those imperfections can be made into things perfect in His love and grace.

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Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION�. NIV�. Copyright � 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (RSV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Copyright � 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.


Entire contents copyright � by Rev. Patrick Kelly, All rights reserved.
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Shepherd's Care Ministries author and webmaster, Rev. Patrick Kelly, is affiliated through ministerial ordination with Church of God Ministries, Anderson IN 46018