The story of the lives of Joseph and Mary reveals to us that God decides to favour those who are willing to submit fully to God's will a and ready to obey and carry out divine instructions even when such an instruction would bring pain to them.

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Text: Luke 1:26-33

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the Angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of king David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, Greetings favored woman, the Lord is with you. Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. Don't be afraid, Mary, the angel told her, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and be called the the son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestors David. And he will reign over Israel forever; His kingdom will never end!"

There are many qualities in the life of Joseph, which we can emulate. Joseph never had carnal knowledge of Mary before they were formally married. Joseph was a just man, although he was not willing to accept a woman pregnant with a child he knew he was not responsible for, yet he did not want to be subject to Mary to a public disgrace, instead he planned to quietly put her away.

On the other hand, Mary was a virgin engaged to Joseph and was living a chaste life. She was humble even when the angel gave her the good news that she was going to be the mother of the Saviour of the world. Mary believed the word that was spoke to her by the angel. As soon as she got clarification concerning the conception, she said to the angel: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word"

As Christians wee learn from this that with God all things are possible. God is able to accomplish in our lives what He has ordained.

Luke 1:36-37

"What is more your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old old. People use to say she was barren, but she is now in her sixth month. Nothing is impossible with God"

The news from the angel concerning Elizabeth, an order woman who was considered barren but now pregnant was cheering. Then Mary out of excitement and joy went to the city of Judah to visit her, her older cousin.

We see from this that visitation and spiritual fellowship with our fellow believers is a very important feature in the lives of believers. It is a source of encouragement and assurance that God knows about our various situations and circumstances.

There is a very close relationship between faith and the fulfilment of God's promises. Faith gives us assurance about things we can not see. Mary exercised faith on the word that the Angel spoke concerning her. This was obvious to Elizabeth, her older cousin that Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those which were told here from the Lord. This is a clear evidence that without faith we can not please God, how then shall we receive from Him?

Conclusion

What an honor to be used by God as an instruments to bring and eternal purpose for man. Joseph and Mary stood on the word of God and they became the earthly parents of out Lord Jesus Christ.

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Thank you for reading.