Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

Have you ever heard news that immediately made you react? This is especially true when someone has personally offended us. Our tendency is to react based on how the action makes us feel. If we are angry, we may approach the person in outrage. If her or she has hurt us, we may shut down and shut that person out to avoid being hurt again. As Joseph received the troubling, hurtful news that his betrothed wife was pregnant, many emotions and questions likely circled in his mind. Yet, even after what seemed like such a personal offense, he did not immediately react. The decision he made was grounded in thoughtful assessment, considering how his actions could honor God and how they would affect others, particularly Mary.

When our phone is only inches away and social media is at our regular disposal, self-control and thoughtful actions can be rare. Many have put a greater value on being straightforward about our feelings, but we do not always take the time to think through how we communicate those feelings to others. When we are in Christ, all our actions reflect Him. Second Corinthians 5:20 says, “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” When we react out of our emotions in the moment, can we truly say we are reflecting the One we follow? As difficult as it may be, the extra moments we take to pray and ask for God’s wisdom instead of reacting are powerful tools for the kingdom. Charles Spurgeon said “When we have to do a severe thing, let us choose the tenderest manner. Maybe we shall not have to do it at all.”[1] Don’t underestimate the value of tenderness and gentleness when you approach others, especially in difficult moments.

• When have you reacted to a difficult situation based solely on emotions?
• What are some steps you can take to remind yourself to slow down and consider others when you get angry or hurt?
• Pray and repent for the times that you have taken matters into your own hands instead of considering how you can best represent Christ in your response.

[1] Charles Spurgeon quoted in David Guzik, “Study Guide for Matthew 1,” Blue Letter Bible, accessed October 13, 2022, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/matthew/matthew-1.cfm.