FAITH LUTHERAN MINISTRIES
  • About Us
    • Church
    • Pastor & Staff
    • Worship
    • Discipleship
    • Outreach
    • Sermons
    • Upcoming Events
    • Ministry Interests >
      • Meaningful Worship
      • Outreach and Service
      • Conversational Discipleship
      • Faith Filling School
    • Give
  • School
    • Preschool
    • Elementary
    • School Staff
    • Ratio Christi
    • School Forms
    • Pay Tuition
  • Careers at Faith
  • Plan Your Visit
    • What to expect
    • Let us know you are coming!
    • Feedback
  • Pastor's Blog

Explore The Word With Pastor Robert Hemsath

Trust, Love, and the Baby Jesus

12/13/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Matthew 1:18-25: Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Put yourself in Joseph's shoes. Mary tells him that she's pregnant. The father of the child is God, the Father of us all. You wouldn't know what to think. Joseph doesn't know what to think. You would be hurt, betrayed. You would feel rejection. You can't trust her. Joseph needs time to sort all of this out. All of this is too far fetched. You want to believe your fiancee. Joseph wants to believe Mary. You want to walk away. You can walk away. Joseph wants to also. He doesn't know how.

Engagement in Joseph's time is different. When you were "betrothed" to another, you were considered married until the actual marriage date. Joseph had to divorce Mary. That would create public scandal for him and Mary. For Mary, she could be stoned to death for the affair. Yet Joseph still loved Mary enough to consider an alternate path to divorce that did not put her life at risk.

Then God said via the angel, "Stay with Mary. She did not stray. She did not have an affair with any man. Mary told you the truth how she became pregnant. You can still trust her. Believe her, Joseph. It's all true. It's real. And you will name Him, Jesus. Marry her. She is the love of your life." And Joseph did.

God spoke, Joseph believed. God speaks to you. Do you believe? God changed Joseph's heart and mind. God can change yours, too. God can bring you His comfort and peace so that you believe, trust, and love because of baby Jesus. Want to know more? Do you have questions? Reply and let's get a dialogue started
. God lead us to trust and love You more, Amen.
1 Comment
vidmate.onl link
11/28/2022 12:42:11 am

anks for sharing the article, and more importantly, your personal experience of mindfully using our emotions as data about our inner state and knowing when it’s better to de-escalate by taking a time out are great tools. Appreciate you reading and sharing your story since I can certainly relate and I think others can to

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Pastor Robert Hemsath joined Faith Lutheran Church and School as the Senior Pastor in January 2017. Pastor Hemsath comes to FLC from Christ the King Lutheran Church in Waxahachie, TX. He has also served congregations in Aberdeen, ID and Pocatello, ID. He has been a Lutheran pastor for the past 20 years.

    Archives

    November 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed


Faith Lutheran Church & School
"Where the Love of Christ Lives"

  • About Us
    • Church
    • Pastor & Staff
    • Worship
    • Discipleship
    • Outreach
    • Sermons
    • Upcoming Events
    • Ministry Interests >
      • Meaningful Worship
      • Outreach and Service
      • Conversational Discipleship
      • Faith Filling School
    • Give
  • School
    • Preschool
    • Elementary
    • School Staff
    • Ratio Christi
    • School Forms
    • Pay Tuition
  • Careers at Faith
  • Plan Your Visit
    • What to expect
    • Let us know you are coming!
    • Feedback
  • Pastor's Blog