Encouragement

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Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him Jesus. – ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭25‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

How wonderful is this man who stood in the midst of misunderstandings and, I am sure of, accusations, and covered his betrothed with his heart? What kind of scrutiny he and Mary must have endured. As I meditate on this, I wonder whether I would have stood knowing such a situation. It is so easy to read and, because we know the whole story, not to judge.

We live in a society today where this is viewed as just a mistake and carries with it very little consequence. In fact, for a few dollars, it can be eliminated.

In the case of all the major players in the birth of Jesus, the Holy Ghost testifies of their righteous living before God. Joseph, a righteous man, looked to protect his betrothed, to send her away, and to secretly cover her.

It was only with the intervention of an angel and Joseph’s own faith-filled acceptance of the angel’s message that both Mary’s life and the life of her unborn baby were saved. The Incarnation of God.

Mary knew exactly what she would face in her home and community after she said her faith-filled, “Let it be done to me according to your word” to the visiting angel. And still, she said, “Yes.” She trusted that God would take care of her, and He did, through her holy husband Joseph. He was heaven’s intervention. Protecting the work of God from the satanic and self-righteousness of religious man. We can say that when Mary gave her account of how this was to come about, he believed her. The scripture gives insight into Joseph’s response and not reaction.

He was a man of thought. Setting his mind on what is above. How this would affect her, first, above himself. As we know from Ephesians 5, a husband’s love is manifested in giving himself up for her. We get a wonderful picture of the kind of family Jesus was to be born into. No matter how it came to be, He would have a mother and Father who loved God and one another. A righteous family where He would grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man.

Joseph was not fearful or did not feel inadequate. He stood in his place and did as the angel in his dream commanded. The confirmation of what the Holy Ghost had done in her was of God. The angel told him not to be afraid and, before His birth, to name the child Jesus.

The inclusion of Joseph is sometimes overlooked or minimized, but not by heaven. He is seen not as a stepfather, but as Jesus’ father. What faith and courage we can take from him. He awoke from his dream and did exactly what had been commanded of him. He took Mary as his wife and honored that which the Holy Ghost did in her and kept her as a virgin.

Righteous Joseph. Glory to God in the Highest.

-Keith Curlee

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“While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. – ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Here we see Mary, as she endeavors to comprehend and wrap her mind around the angel’s word to her. The impossibility of such a supernatural and unbelievable thing happening. So many questions must have assaulted her thinking:

What would people think? Who would believe an angel appeared to her? Why would God choose me? What will my family say?

This is impossible. Yet she did not voice any one of these doubts and fears. Her response was one of the most powerful and clear answers in recorded scripture: “Behold The Lord’s servant, be it unto me according to your word.”

Many of God’s servants, when God called them, gave him excuses and why they could not say, “Yes” initially to him. They saw their limitations and failures and too great of a task. Mary shows us what our mindset should be when the Lord speaks to our hearts in her confession, “I am your servant, I am here for you no matter what you ask of me. I am yours. Be it unto me according to Your word.” She simply received and let the word of God have its perfect work.

For every believer, our place is to simply be a receiver. “Receive ye the Holy Ghost,” Peter declared.

When I think of Mary, I cannot but hear Jesus teaching us about our hearts being like soil. To the degree we receive the seed is to the degree it yields its intent. Some 30, some 60, some 100.

Her response as His servant was, “Be it unto me, according to Your word.”

May we become receivers of all He has for us and His promise of His good work He has begun and will finish according to His word.

Glory to God in the Highest!

-Keith Curlee

Matthew records the covenant lineage of Jesus.

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Oh no, genealogies, more begats. Laborious to read but very important to trace. The redemptive line which runs through the lineage, carrying the promises of God and the prophetic hope of all the promises of God being fulfilled in Jesus.

Beginning with Adam and Eve in the garden after the fall, God curses Satan and He continues to resist and carry out His authority over the evil one, the serpent of old. He declares his fate, his end.

“And I will make enemies Of you and the woman, And of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel.” – ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭15

God reminds him that he is an enemy of heaven and all of creation and in every generation the war will continue. Through the descendents of Eve will come one who will bring his ultimate defeat.

Let’s start with the opening sentence of the book. Matthew tells us the two key people who are most important in this genealogy:

The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. – Matthew 1:1

God recognizes the choosing of Abraham and His covenant to him and his descendants. From this opening statement, we expect this family tree to help us understand not only the ancestral past of Jesus, but also his identity and mission. Jesus is called the son of both David and Abraham. Starting with Father Abraham and his barren wife Sarah—does that sound familiar? By calling Jesus the “Son of Abraham,” the author is connecting Jesus to the father of the people of Israel. Abraham represents the moment when God selected and separated his family from the rest of the nations all the way back in the book of Genesis. It was through these Israelite people that God promised to bring blessing to all of humanity (Gen 12:1-3). Salvation and restoration of mankind.

Secondly, “Son of David,” is a term that the author of Matthew is very fond of. Verse one is the first of ten appearances of the phrase in the book and it draws our attention to the royal line of King David. Abraham’s name pointed to a belonging amongst the people of Israel. David’s name tells us that Jesus was royalty. He is called the son of David and of Abraham.

In Jewish culture, lineage was crucial for establishing identity and legitimacy, so presenting Jesus as a descendant of David held significant meaning. He is the Messiah, prophesied to come to Israel and the world. His sonship, legitimatized, as the Son of God sent into the earth also called the son of man.

Glory to God in the highest!

-Keith Curlee

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Since many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting to me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in an orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. – ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Luke is a physician, an early Christian as a follower of the Way, and a companion of Paul, who records an account of the life of Jesus by collecting historical accounts and eyewitnesses stories. Luke’s attention to detail and abundant eyewitness accounts serve him as a credible historian for the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Today I want to bring attention to the historical account of Luke’s choosing, by the Holy Ghost, the spirit of truth, to compile the things God accomplished among them. He first says that many have undertaken to account of these wondrous events. He has been chosen to begin at the beginning, to vet eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Those who had seen and heard, to gather these accounts, to set them in an orderly sequence.

It is amazing that Luke, a physician, is chosen to do so. In light of that He begins with Mary and the angel’s visitation, establishing her as a virgin to bring forth the son of God. For a physician to, who has seen many births, write of this impossible yet supernatural event, of conception, being a virgin is incredible.

He tells Theophilus, that he has taken the time to investigate fully and carefully—not leaving one stone unturned from the beginning. He has done this so he and we can know the exact truth from the beginning. Not just the facts, but what we have been taught concerning the things God had done. The insight into the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God, and what it means to them and those who shall believe in generations to come. 

He begins in Luke 2, “In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census be taken of all the inhabitants of the earth.” He documents the rulers of this time and the people were to register in their own city. Joseph’s city was Bethlehem as the prophet foretold of the city where the Messiah would be born.

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” – Micah 5:2 NASB2020

Luke establishes the time by those who were ruling and the place where everyone was required to register for the census, where their origin took place. Joseph and his betrothed Mary, great with child, came to Bethlehem because Joseph was of the house and family of David. Even though he was not the father, the prophetic lineage of Jesus was, as prophesied, In the city of David. He would come forth to be ruler in Israel. What was prophesied long ago has now been confirmed historically. As Luke wrote: That we may know the exact truth.

Glory to God in the Highest. 

-Keith Curlee

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“He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, And sent the rich away empty-handed. He has given help to His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, Just as He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.” – ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭51‬-‭55‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Mary’s supernatural encounter with the Holy Ghost who overshadowed her now has come upon her. The Lord begins to magnify Himself in her soul and her spirit is filled with rejoicing. When the Holy Ghost moves on anyone there is a manifestation and expression that cannot be contained. The revelation of God’s holiness and mercy—who He is—transitions to His great and mighty deeds, which His strong arm has done and will continue to do.

Once again, the song points to the juxtaposition of humility and pride. In the midst of God doing great things, she continues to see the need for humility. He scatters the proud in their thoughts and plans and negative unity cannot be upheld. We have a saying: they are “scattered brain,” unable to think straight.

He brings down rulers and their thrones, their place to govern. The lack of ruling from a place of humility which becomes void of mercy cannot remain. To the hungry and the poor, He provides good things, and those who are rich, who oppress or ignore them, are sent away empty-handed. They did not give, but withheld goodness from those in need.

Concerning Israel, He has and continues to keep His covenant word to Abraham and his descendants, and like Mary, He has not forgotten, for it endures forever.

In this time, may He be magnified and exalted in our hearts with great rejoicing in our spirits. Elizabeth and Mary are wonderful examples to us in receiving the Holy Ghost in place, as God, in our lives.

Glory to God in the Highest!

-Keith Curlee