We're All Individuals
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:20)
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:26-28)
It's interesting to note that the angel always spoke to Joseph when he was asleep, but he spoke to Mary while she was awake. Now I don't know why God chose to do this, but it was obvious he was dealing with Mary and Joseph as individuals. He knew them very well and knew how each would respond. He used the best approach with each of them.
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To my knowledge, I've never had a face-to-face confrontation with an angel. I've never had a "direct" revelation through a physical visit or a dream. But I do know that God has spoken directly to me - usually through other people, but sometimes through circumstances.
When I first began to listen to the Gospel message, God chose to use a good looking single man to carry that message. At that point in my life, He couldn't have come up with a better way to get my attention! He kept things in the proper focus, however, by making that particular single man be so focused on Him that he did only what God wanted him to do - tell me the good news of Jesus Christ. God spoke to me through that young man.
God speaks to all of us in the way that we will best respond. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He uses our very nature to help convey His message. He speaks to us through other people, through His Word, through circumstances, even through animals (Don't believe it? Read about Balaam and his donkey in Numbers 22:21-35!). Like Mary and Joseph, what you and I have to do is be ready to listen and to obey.
From Newsong Ministries
Newsong6@bellsouth.net
Used with permission.
