"Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. When he had contemplated 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 as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy
Spirit'” (Matthew 1:18-24).
Can you imagine how scared Mary was when she found out she was going to have a baby? During that time, if someone had a child out of wedlock, they were taken out and stoned to death! How could she explain her pregnancy to her parents or Joseph? Who would believe this wild story? No one! Mary must have really reached up to lean on God’s hand during this time. What a relief, and, I am sure, what thanksgivings she must have given the Lord when Joseph told her his dream, and he believed her! She must have let out a huge sigh of relief!
Then they went to Bethlehem, a trip they would have to make three times a year. They had been in Bethlehem for a while when Mary gave birth. It was probably a somber event and the whole family would have been in disgrace for Mary to give birth to an illegitimate child. Once again, Mary and Joseph were leaning on God’s hand for support.
If God was there for Mary and Joseph in all their "shame," don’t you think He has His hand reaching out to you whenever you ask and even when you don’t ask? He is there. Hallelujah!
Copyright 2014 Kitty Perry
Return to the Adult
and Teen Devotionals page.
You can make a
difference!
Your donation
to the site helps us distribute our
children's ministry resources to churches across the world.
Subscribe to our Newsletter - Learn More
Site Map