Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Matthew 1:21, ” And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. ” 

Background

In the movie Stripes , Bill Murray’s character is a smart aleck who doesn’t know the first thing about personal motivation or drive, not to mention military discipline or character. He and his buddy enlist in the Army essentially as a response to each daring the other, and immediately their lack of respect for authority gets them into trouble. Upon loading up their gear and heading out for a run, the platoon is met by a heavy rainstorm, which leads Murray to try to opt out of the run by conveniently reminding the sergeant that it was the cold and flu season. His comment lands him face down in the mud doing pushups, a position he becomes quite familiar with. We, today, are actually in the midst of the flu season. Flu shots are being offered and promoted at almost every doctor’s office and drug store. I’m not a fan of the flu shot. I have a hang-up about pumping a virus into my body to try to prevent me from getting sick from the virus. And even though it’s not an active virus or able to make you sick, something about it, at least at this stage of my life, doesn’t sit right for me. 

Application

I wonder if Joseph had a similar pause, even if just for a moment, when he heard that his betrothed Mary was going to give birth to someone who was supposed to save people from their sins. Was it puzzling to him, at least initially, that a child who seemed to be sinfully conceived out of wedlock was going to save people from their sins? Where was the sense in that? Wasn’t that some early form of the pot and the black kettle? But God explained to Joseph that Jesus came straight from Him and was of the Holy Spirit. I think His emphasis was probably on the word ” save ” when He told him to name the child Jesus. Rather than sharing in their sins, or beginning life as the result of one, He was going to bring salvation. He wasn’t going to be just another man to leave a temporary mark, like this year’s flu vaccine. He would be Jesus, the Savior. The One who cures us from the only plight common to every single one of us. 

Charge

As we seek Him today, thank God for the salvation that came once and for all to your heart. Thank God that His name is Jesus. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words