Matthew 1

Devotional:
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” (Matt. 1:22-23)

Seven centuries before Christ’s birth, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a virgin and would actually take on human flesh to come dwell among us (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew now proclaims the good news that Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled! Pause for a moment and (valiantly) try to wrap your mind around the profound mystery of the Nativity. Let your mind be boggled by the utter miracle that God’s Son would willingly humble Himself and take on human form (Philippians. 2:5-8). And joyfully reflect upon the truth that Jesus still is and will always be our Immanuel: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Pray it:
Jesus, I thank you for coming to this earth, humbling yourself by taking on human flesh and then dying on the cross. I thank you not only for coming 2,000 years ago but for your promise to be with me always. Help me remember what you have done and your abiding presence with me today. Amen.

Share it:
Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with?