Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 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. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called His name Jesus. (Mat 1:18-25)
We do well to think on Joseph's actions here. As Matthew Henry says, "Were there more of deliberation in our censures and judgments, there would be more of mercy and moderation in them."
We can only assume that Joseph felt betrayed, disappointed, angry and perhaps even jealous over Mary's supposed action. He knew her to be a virtuous woman, yet the fact that she was with child could not be denied. How conflicted he must have been!
Conflicted, yes, but above all, Joseph was a righteous man and was inclined to be merciful as God is merciful.
There is little mercy in our world today. We, as a culture, are quick to judge, often even before all the evidence has been disclosed. We assume that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is guilty of being a duck. But there is more to a person than their walk and their talk.
Sometimes it takes being judged wrongly ourselves before we are willing to extend mercy like Joseph. Friend, this is a hard lesson to learn. I pray, rather, that we will be slow to judgment and more inclined to be merciful simply because we, like Joseph, are children of a kind and merciful God.
Joseph, like Mary, was part of God's perfect plan for revealing His gift to mankind. Jesus was never to be called the son of a harlot. (Matt 13:55)
He was the son of a carpenter, the Son of Man, the Son of God.
Shalom,
The series:
A Season in Scripture I
A Season in Scripture II
A Season in Scripture III
A Season in Scripture IV
A Season in Scripture V
A Season in Scripture VI
A Season in Scripture VII
A Season in Scripture VIII
A Season in Scripture IX
A Season in Scripture X
A Season in Scripture XI
Sharing inspiration here:
Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Faith On Fire, Grace & Truth,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace, Sitting Among Friends, #Glimpsesofhisbeauty
Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments, Heart Encouragement
#DanceWithJesus
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If you read something here that inspired you, I’d love to hear about it. Please know I appreciate every comment! Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings, June