Advent Devotional 12-15-25

Please read Matthew 1: 18-25 

As I read this scripture I was struck by the trust and faith that is shown by both Mary and Joseph. They were so young and had plans to marry and start a life together and everything changed in a very short time. 

Mary is visited by an angel who tells her she has found favor with God and that she will conceive and give birth to a son whom she will call Jesus and he will be called great and son of the most high. Mary doesn’t argue, shake her head and say “no”. She says her soul magnifies the Lord and her spirit rejoices in her Savior. She agrees to all of this and trusts in what she has been told. 

Likewise, when Joseph finds that Mary is with child he plans to marry her and quietly divorce her after the baby is born. That was his plan until he is told in a dream that he was to wed Mary and she would bear a son to fulfill a prophecy. He also did not question but trusted that this is what he was to do.  

I looked up the meaning of faith and trust and in Ephesians 2:8-9 we are told that “Trusting is what we do because of our faith. Trusting is believing in the promises of God in all circumstances. 

At this beautiful time of the year with so much promise before us, I pray that we can all use the trust and faith that God has shown us to live lives of hope and service to others. 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father,  Help me to have trust in you always and use that trust to faithful do good works in your name.   Amen

Debbie McGinnis