Good day dear friends.
We continue to affirm our faith that God wants our marriages to count. Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Matthew 1:18-25 tells us the brief story of Joseph's disappointment in Mary before their actual marriage. Please read that and see what happensin "the rest of the story."
Here is that passage from Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do 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, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
They're called the Holy Family by some. Joseph and Mary, parents to Jesus. It started out as a normal Jewish matrimonial process: Joseph was selected to be Mary's husband, and they took part in the betrothal ceremony, where Mary took Joseph's name, they returned home with their own families and for one year Mary had the option of calling off the wedding. Prior to this step, Joseph was the only one in the relationship that had that right, now Mary had it. The only way to call off the wedding from Joseph's side, was if Mary was found to be unfaithful to him. You can imagine his disappointment, if not anger, at finding out that Mary is now pregnant. "Joseph being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly." He was within his rights. The other option was to have Mary publically executed for her sin.
But God had other plans. God, in a dream, sends an angel to reveal His greater purpose for him and Mary. Joseph goes through with his marriage, and Jesus is born.
What plans does God have for your marriage? Are you waiting for a dream in which God will reveal it to you or do you know that your being married is part of God's plan in and of itself? In what ways are you glorifying God in your marriage? Do your friends and family know your marriage to be a holy one?
PRAYER: God of love and mercy, grant to me a holy marriage. Let my desires and actions be those that seek to do Your will and make known Your love. I pray in Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
We continue to affirm our faith that God wants our marriages to count. Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: Matthew 1:18-25 tells us the brief story of Joseph's disappointment in Mary before their actual marriage. Please read that and see what happensin "the rest of the story."
Here is that passage from Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do 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, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
They're called the Holy Family by some. Joseph and Mary, parents to Jesus. It started out as a normal Jewish matrimonial process: Joseph was selected to be Mary's husband, and they took part in the betrothal ceremony, where Mary took Joseph's name, they returned home with their own families and for one year Mary had the option of calling off the wedding. Prior to this step, Joseph was the only one in the relationship that had that right, now Mary had it. The only way to call off the wedding from Joseph's side, was if Mary was found to be unfaithful to him. You can imagine his disappointment, if not anger, at finding out that Mary is now pregnant. "Joseph being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly." He was within his rights. The other option was to have Mary publically executed for her sin.
But God had other plans. God, in a dream, sends an angel to reveal His greater purpose for him and Mary. Joseph goes through with his marriage, and Jesus is born.
What plans does God have for your marriage? Are you waiting for a dream in which God will reveal it to you or do you know that your being married is part of God's plan in and of itself? In what ways are you glorifying God in your marriage? Do your friends and family know your marriage to be a holy one?
PRAYER: God of love and mercy, grant to me a holy marriage. Let my desires and actions be those that seek to do Your will and make known Your love. I pray in Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
