For my name’s sake I defer my anger;
for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,
so that I may not cut you off.
MATTHEW 1:21 (MSG)
God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.”
THE ESSENCE
God goes to extremes to save us.
DAILY FODDER
So often, if people think of God, their first thought is that he is looking for ways to catch and judge people. These passages suggest that we’re emphasizing the wrong thing when we tell his story.
PRAYER
Gracious God, I'm so grateful that you defer your anger so that you can reveal your saving love at just the right time. Sometimes I threaten people with your anger. Help me to redirect my instincts so that I can invite people to receive the saving love that Jesus poured out on the cross. There is no more compelling aspect of your story than that. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
so that everything that happens here will align
with what is happening in heaven.
Our Father in Heaven,
we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
so that everything that happens here will align
with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.
and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.
