The Dream That Changes Everything
Scripture: “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit'” (Matthew 1.20)
MAIN POINT: God’s revelation expands our perspective beyond our finite concerns to His infinite purposes.
Joseph’s dream wasn’t just personal guidance; it was a paradigm shift. The angel revealed what God was doing. Mary’s pregnancy wasn’t failure; it was the Holy Spirit’s work. The child wasn’t scandal; He was the fulfillment of prophecy. Joseph’s disrupted plans weren’t disasters; they were doorways into God’s grand narrative.
This is what revelation does: it expands our perspective. Joseph went to sleep seeing through his own eyes—focused on his problems, his reputation. He woke up seeing through God’s eyes—as part of the greatest story ever told.
Eugene Peterson writes: “When we submit our lives to scripture, we find our stories in God’s. God is the larger context in which our stories find themselves.” Your life is not about you. It’s about God’s work of salvation.
Tonight at 7 pm, we gather for Christmas Eve worship to celebrate Immanuel. As you come, bring your need for expanded perspective, trusting God’s story is bigger than you imagine.
Reflection: God doesn’t just give instructions; He reveals how our stories fit into His narrative. How might your struggles be part of a bigger story? What would change if you saw your life as a chapter in God’s story rather than God as a character in yours?
Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to see beyond my finite perspective. Help me understand that my life is part of Your greater story of redemption. Give me faith to trust Your purposes even when I can’t see the whole picture. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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