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Do the Right Thing – Lectio Divina

December 22, 2013 By Jean Wise

name him Jesus pin

“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, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream an 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…’

When Joseph awoke from sleep he did as the angel of the Lord commend him.”

Matthew 1: 18-21, 24

Joseph did the right thing.

Lord, that isn’t always easy or popular.

Joseph sounds like a thoughtful, godly man -one who considered options thoroughly before preceding, like planning a project in his carpenter shop.

Joseph made a decision but waited before taking action. Did he pray, Lord? Did he talk it over with you? Did the Holy Spirit urge him to pause?

I want to do the right things for you, too.

Joseph shows me, Lord, lessons in discernment. 

To explore options.

To contemplate actions.

To talk you where I think you are leading.

To listen in time of silence when my ego sleeps.

To come to you and ask for affirmation and guidance.

And be willing to let go and change directions as you direct .

Doing the right thing is often uncomfortable and tough.

I feel vulnerable, exposed by the risk of going against my ego and the world.

But I have been thinking about Joseph, Lord, and his story shows me that with you, I will find the strength and courage to go on.

 With you, I will see your light to take the next step on a unknown dark path.

Lord I trust you knowing you already paid the cost

With you, Lord, I can do the right thing right.

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Comments

  1. blanksoulstops says

    December 23, 2013 at 12:52 am

    It is so true…doing the right thing can be hard sometimes and I am so grateful we can trust God in the process…much love to you, Jean, as you celebrate Christmas 🙂

    • blankJean Wise says

      December 23, 2013 at 11:22 am

      Dolly I am so blessed that we’ve gotten to know each other, to share and to pray for one another. Thank you for being a friend! Much love to you too.

  2. blankHugmomma says

    December 22, 2013 at 2:48 pm

    I just had a lovely conversation with a friend in which we discussed, doing the right thing. It doesn’t always feel good. In fact, it often feels horrible. Everyone around you may not support you, or feel that you are right.. you may even feel as though evil wins when you stand in what you believe God would have you to do. Some may feel as though you are a nut, or hard, or out of touch. Whose opinion counts though? God’s. He knows so much better than we do. We see the now, he sees the end before the beginning. How can we not but trust Him, and seek to do the right thing. When we walk open to His direction, we are usable.
    Lord, make me a gentle and open heart like Joseph. Help me to be brave and Godly in walking in Your will and Word and help me to do the right thing. Amen.

    • blankJean Wise says

      December 22, 2013 at 8:58 pm

      you are so right about how it feels to do the right thing. Can you imagine what that must have been like for Joseph? wow. God does know. I know more than once I had to choose between two actions and took ones others thought wasn’t the best. In the end it was the right one – listening to God first made the difference.
      love your prayer…

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