Devotional For the Week— 22 January 2007
IN
HIS MAJESTY’S SERVICE
Scripture Text: Matthew
1: 18-25
INTRODUCTION
Today’s scripture text is about Mary and Joseph, two people
who had the boldness to move out of their comfort zone to serve
God sacrificially. From this short passage of the bible, we learn
that:
1.
righteous people serve God out of their conviction; and
2.
obedient people serve God out of their comfort zone.
Verse 18 tells us that Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph
but that before they came together, Joseph discovered that Mary
was with child through the Holy Spirit. To truly appreciate the
situation that Mary and Joseph found themselves to be in, one
must understand the social background in which they lived. During
that time, marriages were arranged and like a contract, they were
negotiated. A successful marriage negotiation meant that the couple
was considered married. However, they would not live together
till a year later. During the year, the woman would continue to
live with her parents as the year apart was meant to be a test
of her purity. If during that year she was found to be pregnant,
that would be a sign that she was not pure and the marriage could
be annulled.
RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE SERVE GOD OUT OF THEIR CONVICTION
This was the position Mary was in and Joseph, being a righteous
man, intended to divorce Mary quietly (v 19). Whilst we are not
told expressly that Mary was a righteous woman, this is implied
as the angel who greeted her said that she was highly favored
by God (Luke 1:28). Mary was in a tough position. She would have
to tell Joseph about the angel and that the child was divinely
conceived. This would seem like an incredible explanation and
if Joseph chose not to believe her, he could not be faulted. Mary
stood to lose her husband and her reputation. She could have easily
given up if not for her faith.
Mary
made a choice that day. She chose to submit to God’s will
and to obey Him even though she stood to lose much. She served
God out of her conviction. She knew her God well and was convinced
of His goodness, wisdom and ability to provide a way for her.
Her encounter with the angel of God gave her the conviction to
carry on with this task of carrying the baby even though she was
not told how all these things would be accomplished. Sometimes,
like Mary, we can only wait for God to vindicate us and as Mary
believed, God undertook to vindicate her.
Joseph
was in a difficult position too. We can imagine that he would
have been shocked to find out about Mary’s pregnancy. He
may have found it hard to believe Mary’s explanation. Further,
if he continued with the marriage, others would think the child
was his when that was not the case.
Joseph
did what a righteous man would have done. He did not act rashly,
probably in part to protect Mary from being stoned which at that
time was the penalty for being found “not pure”. He
reflected on the matter and what God would have wanted him to
do. Our God watches over the righteous. God always comes on time!
In this case, God revealed His plans to Joseph through a dream.
Joseph had many beautiful qualities and one of them is that he
did not have a close mind. While he thought that the best way
to handle this situation would be to divorce Mary quietly, Joseph
could differentiate his own thoughts from God’s. He knew
that the dream he had was from God and he immediately changed
his own plans to obey God.
RIGHTEOUS
PEOPLE SERVE GOD OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE
It was no small feat for Joseph to know that the dream he had
was from God. Between the close of the Old Testament and Joseph’s
time, God had not spoken to His people for 400 years. Joseph must
have struggled to make sense of it all. However, faith prevails
for the righteous. Out of Joseph’s own conviction of who
his God is, Joseph chose to obey God.
CONCLUSION
Today, we reap the fruits of Mary and Joseph’s obedience.
For unto us a son is born and the Son of God came to save us from
our sins.
Righteous
people serve God obediently not out of convenience but because
of their conviction of who He is. How are you choosing to obey
God today?
PRAYER
Dear
God, thank you for the lessons learnt through Mary and Joseph’s
example of faith. Please speak to me concerning the task you have
for me. Help me be convicted of who you are and have the strength
to obey your will knowing that where you lead, you will provide
a way. In Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Devotional
based on a sermon by Pastor Leslie Lim.