Editors note: The devotionals that appear from this month on will be taken from the archives because I want to present devotionals relating to the reason for the season. It is possible they will have updates and will be highlighted in pink.

Quiet Times: (Psalm 142, Proverbs 22, and Matthew 1:18-19)

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:18-19)

I learned 3 things about Joseph when he found out that Mary was pregnant:

1. Joseph was a righteous man.

2. Joseph did not want to expose her to public disgrace.

3. Joseph had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Joseph’s actions are so amazing and touching. He knew he was pledged to Mary and they were going to have a life together. Then all of a sudden a bombshell is revealed. Mary is found to be pregnant and Joseph knows that he is not the father of the child.  According to Jewish law, he could have had Mary stoned.

Instead, he loved her so much even when  he assumed she was carrying someone’s child but not his. In his love, he did not want to expose her to public disgrace. This shows me even though he felt he was wronged, he did not have a vengeful spirit towards Mary. On the contrary, he was going to do everything possible for others not to find out about Mary for her sake. For that to happen he decided to go a step further and had in mind to divorce her quietly. According to Jewish law, Joseph would have been in the wrong too if he continued to be with Mary so he wanted to take silent action.

This revealed to me even though he felt he was wronged he decided to show love to Mary as much as possible. It was hard for him to believe Mary conceived without them being together. 

Will Joseph go ahead with his plan or be stopped?

 To be continued......

I saw important implications for my own life. I am reminded how love covers over a multitude of sins. I know when I have been wronged in a situation it becomes so tempting to have the wrongdoer publicly disgraced. Instead, if I say I love them I should be careful how I act.

 It is so easy to publicly disgrace someone but it only shows our vengeful spirit most of the time. There are other times it cannot be helped after multiple warnings but it is not based on vengeance (rf. 1 Corinthians 1 & 2)

I am reminded how differently love towards a person who has wronged us will allow us to handle the situation compared to when we allow that wrong to turn our love into hatred.

I ask you now dear friend how has love influenced you?

Dear friend, I learned how love influenced Joseph’s life towards Mary. Joseph could have humiliated Mary and had the intention to destroy her for what he perceived happened to him. But, instead his love shows his righteousness.

 Sadly, we live in a society where love is just a four letter word and not have a true meaning. It is only love when things go our way but when things don’t love is shattered. I believe it is a lack of true love that has shattered many marriages even when sexual sin has not been involved. A wrongdoing can easily turn human beings heart to hate which is sad.

When that happens we are not satisfied with our own hurt but want the other person to be hurt too. The best way people do that is trying to publicly disgrace someone for their wrong doing. I have experienced that and it is so terrible. The pain and humiliation is awful too.

 It does not show love but their own vengeful spirit for what happened. I have been guilty of that too but reading this passage made me realize how I need to change and let love rule me.

 Sadly in ministry people are more publicly disgraced than in other professions. I believe if we allowed love to rule the situations, things would be different. This does not mean that if a person’s actions are in the wrong, they are being approved of. Just as Joseph thought of ways, I believe we can think of ways too to rectify a situation where we have been wronged but allowing love to influence us.

Friend, maybe you have been at the receiving end of the wrong and may have faced public disgrace for actions. If it was done by brothers and sisters in the Lord, that could even feel worse. But, I want you to know that whatever has happened to you, Jesus wants to show you what true love is. Sometimes according to the Book of Corinthian’s things have to happen but that too is based on love and not vengeance.  

No matter what has happened, the Lord Jesus can pick you up and put you on solid ground as you turn to Him this Christmas season! Yes, He can! Even if you have been humiliated, don’t let that rule you but allow Jesus to come and heal you.

Maybe you are at the giving end and have publicly disgraced others. If that happened, you can know there are alternatives to handle a situation. Ask the Lord for forgiveness and see how you can handle a situation from now on allowing love to influence you. That is what Joseph did.

May you allow the Lord Jesus Christ’s love to influence you this Christmas season and forever! Amen!

"Love Others Very Enthusiastically!" (L.O.V.E)/"How has L.O.V.E influenced you?"

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I want to thank you so much for how much you love us. Your love is so pure and unconditional. Lord for all the wrongs we have done if you did not show us love, we would forever continue to be publicly disgraced. But you have not done that Lord instead you had in mind for you to be publicly disgraced taking upon yourself our sin. Thank you so much Jesus for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us. Help us please to be influenced by your love. I thank you Jesus for being in our life. Forgive us Lord when we allowed a vengeful spirit to decide those we want publicly disgraced. This happens a lot in society. We don’t want to be like society but how you want us to be. Thank you so much again for your love that can rule our lives. I give myself completely to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you for bringing us through the years of infancy and caring for us. You have been our help so many times. Please continue to live in us and we will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of our lives. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you that you are our Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you that you have heard our prayers and answered us. In Your Name I Pray JESUS! AMEN!

Won’t you allow Jesus to be a presence in your life this season! You can do it right away and don’t even have to wait! Why not pray these words in your heart and mean it!

Prayer:
Jesus, I heard that you want to be part of my life. I want you in my life. I do have a lot of baggage with me. Most of the baggage is damaged goods and only you can set me free. I want to have your presence in my life, for you say when you come in, you will never leave us nor forsake us. I am so sorry for my sins Jesus. You know all my sins what I have done, you know where I have been in my life! You alone can give me new life. I don’t expect everything to be peachy when I come to you but I do know you will be with me and help me through whatever I have to face in life. Thank you Jesus! Please forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with your cleansing blood. I believe you died on the cross to save me from my sins and came back to life to give me new life. I accept all that you have done for me through your grace! Thank you for your grace, you want to impart in my life. Please come into my heart now and make my heart your home forever! Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life as you help me through the Holy Spirit. Fill me Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home! Thank you for being part of my life as I acknowledge you as my Lord and personal Savior! I am not alone but you are with me guiding my path! Thank you Jesus I am born-again into your family and when I have backslid you have brought this prodigal son or daughter back to you. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you, you have heard my prayer and answered me! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark! It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches Christ crucified and risen to bring us hope, healing, and help! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus too this coming new year!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

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