Matthew 1:19 (NIVUK)
19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Joseph at this point didn’t know that the child Mary was carrying was of God, nor were they married at this point either, they were engaged, something that carried more weight and commitment than in our culture. Discovering that Mary was pregnant must have come as a shock, and certainly unfaithfulness on her behalf would have been grounds to break their engagement. But Joseph is an honourable person, despite what he believed she had done, he wants to save her any unnecessary humiliation and public disgrace, and so resolves to break it off quietly. This reminds me of God, who is even more gracious, resolving not to abandon us in our sinfulness, but seeking to do all he can to win us back – even sending his Son to be one of us with all the risk that involved.
Father, we worship you because you are faithful when we are faithless – help us to be more gracious in our dealings with others.
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