Day 11~ Advent Countdown-In His Word 12-10-2023
It isn't any wonder today that I think of Jesus' earthy father, on my father's birthday. I thank God for him, and miss him not just today but also today. He was a good man, and extraordinary man who helped raise 6 children that were not even his own.
I find it interesting in today’s reading of Luke 2 that the
people were being taxed is what stood out to me today. We in the US are in the
season we gather our things and donate them to both get rid of them and help
others. Many people use this as a tax write off, and others just do it to clean
out stuff.
I have a point. Joseph who came from the lineage of David,
the king David, still had to pay taxes, and he still had to be part of the census,
and he had to obey the law of the land. He had a home to live in that he
probably worked hard to build since he was a carpenter. He was a normal guy. He
was an extraordinary man too. He accepted Mary as his wife even though she was
with child. He raised him as his own knowing of course, due to the visit from
God’s Angel, that his son was the Son of God. He followed the law of the land,
and did what was right in God’s eyes from what we read about him. He was a good
man, an extraordinary man. I think we do not notice him so much because Mary
and Jesus take the limelight, so to speak, but Joseph taught Jesus a trade, he accepted
what God planned and went with it all! Certainly he had hardship in the days
they traveled and such but God had to have blessed him for the good man he was.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius
was governor of Syria.) And all went to
be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out
of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with
Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that,
while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.7
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke
2:1-7
Today lets look for the less seen blessings in our lives.
Look for the people who do more than they have to because God placed them in
the place to do so. Honor, encourage, bless them today, in Jesus’ name.