Corona Devo 3314
Like turning on a faucet, in need of either hot or cold water--we know which handle to twist for the desired outcome: Hot is hot and cold is cold. There are only two choices.
When training employees, a team, children, and ourselves: there is always a right way and a wrong way to handle things/to complete-a-task...to decide. Right and wrong: there are only two choices.
While we can argue that there can be gray-areas...we can also agree that there is always a clear option (in every situation) to do what is (clearly) correct, and as Believers in God, we defer to the Bible as our right-and-wrong handbook.
But Joseph (the husband of the virgin Mary) reminds us (through the Bible) that when we make the right choice in life (even when difficult), sometimes God presents an previously-unknown third option that He alone can provide (sometimes!) if we are making choices that honor Him.
How so?
Well...you may know this historical account, but let's learn it again, through the lens of Joseph's Godly-choices...and God's supreme authority to (possibly) make a new path in our lives if we are doing our best to honor Him with our decisions.
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ~Matthew 1:18
Joseph had two choices upon learning of Mary's pregnancy (before they came together).
There really were (at that time) only two choices: (1) Shame Mary and divorce her, or (2) Quietly and subtly divorce her.
Because, either way (except for a miracle), divorce (by law) was the outcome. Joseph's choice was not to divorce Mary or not to divorce Mary, but in what manner to divorce Mary.
Joseph could have (and had every legal right at that time to) expose her to public disgrace, and in-that-day and circumstance (and in his defense)--it would have been an accepted and encouraged decision to shame Mary for her pre-marriage pregnancy.
Joseph's other option was to be subtle, and to "divorce her quietly", as the Scripture says.
Joseph was a good guy and a God-fearing and God-following guy, and--of the hot-and-cold faucet handles, he chose to be as kind as he could to Mary in divorcing her.
Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. ~Matthew 1:19
Joseph made the right decision in handling this delicate and painful and awkward situation, and the Bible makes (purposeful) mention that Joseph put time and thought and consideration into how to handle it right.
But while he thought on these things... ~Matthew 1:20 (KJV)
But after he had considered this... ~Matthew 1:20 (NIV)
There was a right and not-so-right way to handle the situation, and Joseph put consideration into the best choice, and he made the best choice available to him at the time.
But sometimes, when we are living-life-out for the Lord, and making the right choice...God presents His own alternative.
Following the customs of that time--it would have taken a miracle for Joseph not to divorce Mary (because she was pregnant before they were married). And--in His divine sovereignty of all circumstances--God provided a miracle.
Jesus was the miracle, and once God revealed that understanding to Joseph...even though Joseph had made the most-correct decision-at-the-time...now God presented an even better option: Marry Mary anyway.
And so, Joseph chose the 3rd (previously unknown) option, because God's option is always the most correct choice.
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. (21) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
(22) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: (23) “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
(24) When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (25) But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. ~Matthew 1:20-25
~~~
Do we have a decision to make today?
One hundred percent of the time there is a right and a wrong answer for it...and we know that.
While we try to argue (with our conscience) that there can be gray-areas, we know that there is always a clear option (in every situation) to do what is (clearly) correct. And if we need guidance, we can refer to the Bible as our right-and-wrong handbook every time.
Do the right thing today. Let's make the most-correct choice in whatever situations have sidled-up beside us or within us
This is what the Bible teaches us.
- If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. ~James 4:17
- He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. ~Micah 6:8
- Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. ~2 Timothy 2:15
And...who knows? Sometimes God surprises us with an alternative (previously unknown) option, while we are in the process of doing what we should be doing.
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. (19) Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
(20) 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. (21) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” ~Matthew 1:18-21
Blessings,
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