GOD GIVES THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION

GOD GIVES THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION

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. —Matthew 1:18-24

“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. —Psalm 81:11-12

            How heart-broken Joseph must have been to think Mary had a sexual relationship with another man and now she is pregnant by him.  They were betrothed.  They were going to get married.  They had committed themselves to each other and now this?

            Joseph was a righteous man and even in his pain was not willing to react and “put her to shame.”  No, he was not going to publicly expose her.  Instead, he was “resolved to divorce her quietly.”  And so this was the counsel he decided he was going to take.  With the evidence he had this was his decision. 

            But then… “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.’”  Ok… this changes everything about the situation.  Joseph did not have all the information he needed to make the correct decision about Mary.  But when God sent and angel to tell him what he needed to know, then Joseph “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.”  This child Mary was carrying was “conceived in her from the Holy Spirit” and “would save his people from their sins.”  This child to be born of Mary was actually “Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” 

            Unlike the people of Israel in the past, Joseph did submit to God and do what He desired and it was not an easy situation.  God may be calling you to an uneasy situation, but with the limited information you have at this time you might be thinking the opposite of God’s intent.  Be patient.  He may want you to have some more information before you make the decision you need to make.  But when the information comes then act upon it as Joseph did.

Dear Father help me to be patient and expect You to give me the information I need to make the decisions You desire me to make.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus and for Your glory.