“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. Her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, and 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. She will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins’ ” (Matthew 1:18-21).
Joseph was “a righteous man.” But his righteousness was revealed in his heart of mercy. His righteousness was not the self-righteousness of insisting upon the judgments of the law with harshness and legalism. His righteousness came from one who knew God more personally, more intimately; he was one who was “unwilling” to do what the law seemed to require and what he felt people seemed to expect. Rather, he was willing to express his love through his mercy, even though his heart was broken and his emotions were raw, in the face of his deep disappointment with this one he valued and trusted so much.
Before Joseph ever knew the truth about Mary’s Child, the truth of his own heart was revealed. It was only after Joseph resolved in his heart to show mercy to Mary that the angel appeared to reveal the truth of all the facts that Joseph didn’t know. It’s the heart of mercy, not judgment, that draws the Presence of the Lord. It’s the heart of mercy, not judgment, that allows us to hear the truth and live in the way that honors God, as we honor those He brings across the path of our lives.
The heart of mercy, not judgment, is at the heart of God. And it’s to be our heart as well. “For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). Freely we have received Your mercy and freely we are to give (Matthew 10:8). You command us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). You remind us, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
Lord, like Joseph, let me have a heart of mercy. Let me be unwilling to judge or condemn. Let me grow in Your righteousness, not my self-righteousness. Let me never assume I know all the facts and harden my heat in judgment, rather than opening my heart in mercy. And if I’m led to speak the truth in love, let it be Your truth spoken in Your love, only as You lead with Your heart to redeem and restore. After all, that’s what Mary’s Child has come to do for us. “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high has broken upon us!” (Luke 1:78) In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
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Come to The Fountain This Friday Night! Dec 17 at 7 pm for our Messiah Ministries monthly, citywide gathering for Prayer, Praise & Healing Worship. All are welcome! Come drink deeply from the Living Water as we worship God in Spirit and Truth, welcoming His healing Word and Presence into our lives and the burdens on our hearts. This month, Jeff Green will be leading in worship and Linda Dulin will be leading in prayer, while I’m speaking at The Vineyard Church in Lexington for Celebrate Recovery. The Fountain is led by Messiah Ministries and hosted monthly in the Chapel at Centenary Church, 2800 Tates Creek Rd., Lexington, KY 40502. If you’re in our area, please come with a friend and spread the word!
