VERSE:
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. But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit…

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
— Matthew 1:18-20; 24

THOUGHT:
Joseph was a man of integrity. When he found out that Mary was pregnant (with the assumption that it was another man’s child) he had in mind to exercise his right to divorce her, yet not at the cost of her being publicly disgraced. When he was confronted with the Word of the Lord, he obeyed God at the cost of himself being publicly disgraced for having stayed with the woman who was pregnant with a child that was not his own. He did this in faith, not caring about what it would look like to the world.

APPLICATION:
Sometimes the Word will tell us to do things that will ruin our reputation in the world. We need to have the attitude of Joseph who cared more about God’s approval, than man’s opinion.

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, give me the heart of Joseph. Empower me to obey your word, even at the cost of my reputation in the world. I want your approval, more than man’s approval. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN!