FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT - 11/10/2010 by Chaplain Janet Marston

[Chaplain Janet Marston-McGregor]

November 10, 2010

by Rev. Dr. Janet Marston

Certified Christian Chaplain

Christmas time is almost here. As Christians, let us not forget the true meaning of the holiday, which is the birth of our Savior. As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it is important to note that Mary was indeed a virgin. There are numerous opinions and theories that Mary stayed a virgin throughout her life, but that is not what the Word of God tells us. Mary did stay a virgin until the birth of Jesus, but then her marriage with Joseph was consummated, as you can read in the passages from the first chapter of MATTHEW below.

Also important to note is Joseph accepting Jesus as His son. When Joseph agreed to take Mary as his wife, he took the whole package, which included her child. He "adopted" Jesus - he pledged to take Jesus and raise him and love him as his own son. Joseph accepted Jesus, through Mary.

This is also true of our GOD, who accepts us as through Jesus. GOD "adopts" us through the blood of Jesus that was shed for our sins. It is true that GOD created us and is our Father, but through original sin, we fell from that relationship and had to be "accepted" or "adopted" by another means. Joseph adopting Jesus through Mary is a mirror of GOD adopting us through Jesus. Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit which brought forth Jesus. We are saved by Jesus, which brought forth Salvation. Salvation is a gift. We did not earn it. We cannot pay for it. We have to accept the gift in order to receive it. All are welcome. No one is too good or too bad. Accept the gift of salvation today and be adopted into GOD's wonderful family!

THANK YOU, LORD JESUS, FOR SAVING ME FROM MY SINS AND PROVIDING ME A WAY TO LIVE FOREVER WITH YOU AND MY CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN HEAVEN. I ACCEPT YOUR GIFT OF SALVATION WITH A HUMBLE AND WILLING HEART. AMEN.

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

MATTHEW 1:18-24

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 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.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.