Daily devotion – When God seeks to use us.
Although God loves and blesses godly single parents, He is the creator of marriage and the two-parent family. After Mary has been visited by the angel Gabriel about her being chosen to birth Jesus, the Son of God into our world, Joseph, Mary’s fiancé had to be informed.
Joseph was also an integral part of the puzzle because he gave Jesus his legal right to the throne of David through Solomon – Matthew 1:6-16.
Whilst Mary, also a descendant of David through another son, Nathan, gave Jesus His physical right to the throne – Luke 3:23-31.
When Joseph first learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he was not aware of its supernatural origin. As a result, “he had a mind to divorce her quietly” because he “was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace” – Matthew 1:19.
This reveals that Joseph genuinely loved Mary. At that point God sent an angel to inform Joseph in a dream concerning Mary’s part in the plan of God. Joseph was instructed to “take Mary home as your wife” and to name her son “Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” – Matthew 1:20 – 21.
Like Mary, Joseph was obedient to the divine instructions and “took Mary as his wife. But had no union with her until she gave birth to a son” Matthew 1:24-25.
This implies that Joseph and Mary enjoyed normal marital relations, following the birth of Jesus, a fact supported by references to His brothers – John 7:3.
Can you put yourself in Joseph or Mary’s shoes? A young couple engaged and in love looking to living a simple life together. When all of sudden it seems, God stepped into their lives in a way they could never have imagined.
Each of us are on a mission, each of us, God has a specific plan for us to walk. A life with God can never be called boring or dull. We don’t know just what God has planned for us but it will be revealed in His good and perfect time.
In the meantime, let us as Joseph and Mary did prior to these amazing events unfolding, live before God in a way that ensures we are always open to hear His calling and to be ready to do what He asks of each of us – no matter what it may be!