Devo for 12/7/2025 Service - Message by Pastor Clint
Pastor Clint opened a new sermon series examining the radical arrival of Jesus on earth titled “Born to Break the Mold”. He laid out how God showed up to reveal His plan for redemption and to rescue us from the death caused by sin entering our world. God’s rescue plan included using unlikely people who had hearts for Him, including Jesus’ mother and father.
God asked Mary and her husband Joseph to do what would have been unthinkable during those times. Mary, being pregnant but not married to Joseph, could suffer a penalty against her of disgrace, humiliation and even being stoned to death. Joseph faced the potential for disgrace as well, plus the knowledge that the person he loved would be considered a bad person.
But God chose the perfect people to invite into His plan. Mary was confused and probably scared when the angel came and told her about the “plan” for her to bear Jesus as she would have surely known the potential consequences, but after hearing the angel out, she simply replied, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
Joseph also had concerns when he first learned of the “plan”. His reaction was one of protection of his soon-to-be wife.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-21
So as we see, Mary and Joseph both questioned the circumstances they were in, but ultimately said yes to God’s plan. They did this because they had hearts for God. They trusted Him. And God looks at our hearts first.
“...for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” 1 Samual 16:7b
Pastor Clint said that God “called Mary to 'carry' Jesus into the world, and He calls us to do the same.”
A good question for us all to ponder is this: “When God looks at my heart, does he see a man willing to say yes?”
I encourage us all to spend some time with God on this question this week!
Don’t forget to invite God into your day!
Topic for Study
Trust in God
Psalm 37:4-6
Romans 8:28
Proverbs 3:5
December Memory Verse:
Proverbs 13:6
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths”