Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Let us also celebrate the miracle of Jesus’ birth! Women, let’s look at Mary. She was a young woman who gave God her “yes”. Can you ask yourself, honestly, if you are giving God your yes? Are you obedient to the calling you have on your life? Do you realize God has given you the ability to carry and give life? It means physically with children and also spiritually with the word of God. Sometimes, you carry things spiritually and protect, conceal and nurture that which God has given you until it is time to give birth. The timing of birth is dependent upon the ability to bring outside that which is inside. In other words, when you are ready, God will give you the wisdom and knowledge to do what he has given you to do! So women, you are a powerful child of God, created in God’s image who is constantly providing protection over you. Whether you are married—your husband is your protector. If you are still living in your father’s home — your father.
Men — let’s look to Joseph as the example of what God has designed for you. Joseph was engaged (betrothed) to Mary who all of a sudden, was pregnant. Did he run for the hills? No, the Angel came to him in Matthew 1:20 and Joseph had a life-changing encounter and he did what was told to him. Notice, the angel didn’t come to Mary anymore but to Joseph–the covering of Mary. The angel went to Joseph to tell him when to leave and when to go. Men, cover your wives in the love of God. Protect that which God has given her. Help her to know you are there to help her nurture and grow what God has given her. Protect her in the calling of God and help her understand when she is to go and thrive in whatever God has called her. Let her know it is time to “go” if she will be in danger or has spent enough time in this particular calling and it is time to go to another/higher calling.
Men, Joseph was a prophet (the angel delivered messages to him), a man of integrity (he did not put away Mary), a man of order (he took her as his wife and named Jesus when the angel told him Jesus’ name) and protector (followed the angel’s warnings to move from town to town). Men, be more like Joseph and find him in Matthew and Luke chapters 1-2. God has great things in store for you and has placed the protection, prophecy and family in your care. Please take time this Christmas to become the Joseph of your family and community. Women, give God and your husbands your yes so you can be under the protection of God. God showed us the restoration of what marriage was intended to be through his birth. Let this Christmas be a transformative moment in your family to put God first over your life, give Him your “yes” and allow God to restore that which may be broken. God loves you and came to His creation to save His creation through His birth. Will you be reborn today and give God His way in your life? Will you give God your “yes”? You won’t regret it.
Love, Pastor Dr. Deb Walsh
