Be Transformed

Be Transformed “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.” Matthew 1:18 Can you imagine the transformation that Joseph must have had when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream? Joseph was just an ordinary man with ordinary dreams for his life. He was going to get married, start a family, raise his children, and build his carpentry business in a little town called Nazareth. There was nothing unusual in his plans, just a simple life. But when Joseph had first found out that Mary was going to have a baby, he had thought about divorcing her quietly, as he had wanted to be married to her, but being a righteous man did not want to expose her to public disgrace. But God had different plans for him and also for Mary. Most of us can look back at certain moments in our own lives, where we have encountered God, and He has changed everything. It may have been when you were baptized, or when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. I know there have been several encounters, in my own life, where God changed everything from what I had planned for myself. During this Christmas Season, don’t forget to do more than just open presents. Open your heart to Christ in a greater way than ever before, and worship Him and let Him transform your life. Your encounter with God can become the most important event that will ever happen to you. Remember that God has already given you the greatest gift possible, when He sent Jesus to earth, and then to die on the cross for your salvation. Take time this Christmas to remind yourself that the birth of Jesus can be your time to be transformed just as Joseph was. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six December 24