When we think of angels at Christmas, our first thought is generally the angels that appeared to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. But an angel is important to Christmas even before Jesus was born.
Our Bible lesson today tells us about a visit from an angel. Joseph and Mary were engaged to be married. Can you imagine the thoughts that came to Joseph's mind when he discovered that Mary was going to have a baby and they weren’t married yet? He probably asked himself, "What do I do now?" Joseph was a good man and did not want to disgrace Mary publicly, so he decided that it would be better to break off the engagement quietly. While he was considering this, an angel appeared to him in a dream.
"Don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife," the angel said. "The child that is inside her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus."
When the angel of the Lord had spoken and made God's plan clear, Joseph listened. He didn’t have to understand how everything was going to happen. He didn’t need to worry about what anyone else would think. Joseph trusted God.
Sometimes we may find ourselves in a situation where we don't know what to do. Like Joseph, we might ask ourselves, "What do I do now?" If we listen, God will guide our actions. He probably won't speak to us through an angel, but he can speak to us through the words in the Bible. This week we have “Directed Drawings” for you to do. You can listen and watch the videos and tutorials to make a directed drawing of the nativity, Mary & Joseph, baby Jesus, and angels!