Devotion for Wednesday, January 24, 2024

“And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly” (Matthew 1:19).

What would you do in Joseph’s place?  In all seriousness, you would be heartbroken, feel betrayed, and unsure what to do.  In his time, he could have had Mary stoned for this perceived infidelity.  But he was a good man.  He did not want to exonerate himself, but he also wanted to do the legal and right thing.  He was going to do what had to be done quietly to minimize the damage.

How often are we in a situation such that it is lose-lose?  We seek to do what is right, but also, to minimize the damage.  It hurts and often taints what others think of us.  But Joseph was a good man.  No wonder the Lord chose him to be his step-father.  In the mystery of the Incarnation, never lose sight of the mystery surrounding all of our Lord’s choices in how things will unfold and with whom.

Lord Jesus, I would like to have character like Joseph where, even when I believe I have been egregiously wronged, I am willing to do the right thing quietly to minimize damage even to the party that I believe is wrong.  Help me to move in this direction so that I seek what is right and not what I feel ought to be done.  Move me beyond my feelings and into the place where I trust Your leading and the goodness You are pouring into me.  Amen.