Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:24-25
Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Reflections: Mary’s fiancé, Joseph, was a righteous man full of integrity. When he learned of her pregnancy, he secretly planned to break the engagement. While debating what to do, he fell asleep and had a dream. An angel indicated to him that Mary’s pregnancy was divine and that they should go ahead with the marriage plans. Joseph complied when he awoke from the dream. He took Mary to be his wife but refrained from having sex until she gave birth to her son. By abstaining from sex for the period, Joseph demonstrated the essence of exercising self-control in life. Self-control ‘is the quality that prevents you from doing things you want to do but that might not be in the best of interests’. It keeps you out of trouble and enables you to hold on to your integrity. Ultimately it helps you to resist temptation and avoid conforming to the things of this world. Like Joseph, learn to exercise self-control whenever the situation arises.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me exercise self-control
Confession: I exercise self-control.