Joseph Chose to Offer Grace

[Joseph Chose to Offer Grace](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) Current Teaching Series [Radicalis: Developing Spiritual Roots](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Listen to Today's Broadcast](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Joseph Chose to Offer Grace](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) By Rick Warren — December 18, 2019 [Facebook](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Twitter](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Pinterest](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Email](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Devotional image from Rick Warren](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) “Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so he made plans to break the engagement quietly” (Matthew 1:18-19 GNT). The Christmas story could have gone differently for Joseph. Think about it: God could have chosen to save Joseph a lot of confusion and pain by directly telling him about Baby Jesus. Instead, Joseph has to learn the news from Mary and possibly think his fiancée’s been unfaithful to him. What is God doing here? He is testing Joseph’s character. He wants to see if Joseph will be compassionate, forgiving, and loving. And instead of trying to get even or even getting angry, Joseph chooses to offer grace and let the pain go. Mary was struggling with fear at the first Christmas, and Joseph was struggling with anger. This happens today in marriage after marriage. Often, one spouse is dealing with fear and the other is dealing with anger at the same time. Joseph had every reason to be hurt and wounded, but he didn’t attack Mary in his hurt. He offered her grace. The Bible says in Matthew 1:18-19, “Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so he made plans to break the engagement quietly” (GNT). That’s a beautiful example of grace. Joseph doesn’t publicly embarrass her. He’s not trying to shame her. He just says, “Okay. We’re going to call off the wedding.” Joseph is put in a difficult situation, but he chooses to do what he thinks would honor God, not yet understanding that the Heavenly Father had a bigger plan for Joseph to be the earthly father of Jesus. Who has hurt you deeply? Are you still hanging on to that hurt? If you are, that’s one of the reasons you’re not joyful. You cannot be resentful and joyful at the same time. You’ve lost your joy because you’ve kept your resentment. You’re not going to change anything by holding on to your hurt. Don’t forgive because the other person deserves it. Forgive because it’s what God has done for you. Offer grace, and let the pain go. Do you want to be bitter, or do you want to be blessed? When you choose to show grace and let it go after people hurt you, you get God’s blessing on your life. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) Talk About It - What hurt have you had a hard time letting go of? How has it affected your joy? - How has resentment affected your physical health—or the health of someone you know? - What does God’s forgiveness mean to you? You’ll never be able to forgive fully until you’ve understood how much God has done for you. [Facebook](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Twitter](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Pinterest](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Email](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r [Get 365 Day Devotional Open Doors when you give a gift to support Daily Hope](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) Your life is shaped by the doors you walk through and those you walk past. Pastor Rick Warren encourages you to walk through the door that leads to greater intimacy with God in his brand new 365-day devotional, Open Doors. Pastor Rick’s 365-day devotional will help you . . . • Discern which doors in life to walk through, and which to walk past • Develop a deeper relationship with the Lord • Experience greater love, trust and freedom [LEARN MORE](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) Includes 7 full-length teaching CDs from Pastor Rick's series Radicalis: Developing Spiritual Roots. [LEARN MORE](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r [Series Summary](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) Message 1: Radical Gratitude Message 2: Radical Faith Message 3: Radical Joy Message 4: Radical Hope Message 5: The Miracle: Radical Generosity Message 6: Radical Freedom Message 7: Radical Love [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r)[Twitter](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Instagram](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) [Linkedin](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) As the founding pastor of Saddleback Church with his wife Kay, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000-member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As an author, his book [The Purpose Driven Life](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r) is one of the best-selling nonfiction books in publishing history. It has been translated into 74 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. His book The Purpose Driven Church was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the century. Rick also founded The PEACE Plan to address five global issues—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. You can listen to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope, his daily 25-minute audio teaching, and sign up for his free daily devotionals at [PastorRick.com](JhADPjbNC:m:1:2618166767:5D603111B67C76D4896533B5291FC7C3:r). © 2019 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. This message was intended for: {EMAIL} You were added to the system December 23, 2016. For more information [click here](. [Unsubscribe](