Day 268

Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:39-2:40.  “Strength from the Spirit”

         As I read through today’s readings, a couple of things stand out.  How amazingly difficult it must have been for Joseph and Mary to show their faces in public; the humiliation they must have faced on a daily basis, and the strength that they received from the Holy Spirit to endure.
          As Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem from Nazareth to register for the national census, they would have met a large number of people on their journey.  Can you imagine how their conversations must have gone?
         “Hi there, I’m Joseph and this is my wife Mary.  Pregnant? Why, yes she is. Just a few more months and we will have a bouncing baby um…  Savior …uh.. Am I the Father?... well, I am, sort of, or at least I’m going to be.. See, the Holy Spirit is the baby’s father!  Hey, where you guys going?”
         God asks us to do some really tough things in this world and, regardless of the circumstances and by the power of the Holy Spirit, He always gives us the strength to get through it. All we have to do is ask!

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?