Daily Devotion

 With Pastor Ancel Presnell

“JOSEPH’S DILEMMA: DOUBT AND DEVOTION”

The Virgin Birth wasn’t just a miracle for Mary; it created an unbelievable crisis for Joseph. The undeniable perception was that Mary was unfaithful to him. The Bible calls Joseph a just man, meaning he loved the Lord and followed God’s Law. The Law stated that a woman perceived to be unfaithful was worthy of stoning. Imagine the doubt, the hurt, and the confusion Joseph was going through.

To remain a faithful man to God, he couldn’t marry her. But Joseph was also faced with a tender, God-like heart toward the woman he loved. He couldn’t stand the thought of Mary being publicly shamed, taunted, and stoned to death, so he concocted a plan to divorce her privately. That’s a man trying to do right by the Law while also showing mercy.

Praise God that Joseph didn’t have to follow through with his human plan! God spoke truth to him in a dream, telling him that the Child was “of the Holy Ghost” and that the Child’s name would be JESUS, for “he shall save his people from their sins.” Joseph arose from his sleep and obeyed! We are not Joseph; we have the whole story in front of us. What will you do with the Virgin Birth? Will you accept its divine nature and obey the rest of the Gospel it points to?

Matthew 1:24– “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:”