...But God

Matthew 1: 18-25

Creators and Guests

Host
Chad McBeam
Business Leader, Foster Advocate and Fighter of Human Trafficking, Chad enjoys hosting this podcast channel as a way to spread and highlight the great examples of those who live out their faith daily. He can also be seen on occasion on your TV or Film Screen or be heard narrating one of your books as his love of acting has stuck with him since his childhood.
Writer
Aaron Marcarelli
After getting his under-graduate degree from Cal State University San Bernardino where he played college baseball and received all American honors. he was a graduate assistant baseball coach at both Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee, and at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.  He received his master’s degree in Teaching from Whitworth, with plans to someday be a head baseball coach at a university.  However, God had other plans.  Aaron started teaching English and History and coaching baseball and other sports at the high school level and found out how much he loves high school kids, and he has been doing that for the past 27 years.     Personally, heI has been married to his wife Sharon for 32 years, they have one daughter, Amanda Parrish, who has been married to Austin Parrish for 2 years. Aaron also has two grandsons Travis age 2 ½ and Aden who is 13 months and are blessed to have another on the way due in May. Aaron loves reading, golfing, and spending time with his wife and grandkids.
LC
Designer
Linda Cowen
Linda Cowen of San Antonio Christian School is our gracious and talented art designer for the But God, weekday morning devotional series.

What is ...But God?

A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam

“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had thought this over, 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 give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him Jesus.”
Matthew 1:18-25 NASB2020
Joseph is a man of honor. In Jewish culture Mary and Joseph were betrothed. Which means they were married. The papers were signed, the dowry was agreed upon. The only thing that needed to happen was the ceremony and for the marriage to be consummated. Joseph had every right to divorce her quietly. He actually could have embarrassed her family, made this a public ordeal he even could have had her stoned to death. But he was an honorable man and he did not want to cause a scene. Therefore as the scripture said he planned to “divorce her quietly”. But God had other plans. God has an Angel appear to Joseph in a dream. Joseph is the only person in the retelling of the birth of Jesus to have an Angel appear to him in a dream. All the other times an Angel appears it is in person. There are a few reasons for this. In the Jewish and Muslim culture dreams are a vital part of what God does. It has always been so. Going back to Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and the prophets. It is how God has revealed spiritual truth for all time. (Even now God is using dreams to bring militant Muslims to follow Him). So why does God use a dream with only Joseph, why not Zachariah or the Shepherds. Because of Joseph’s name. God is connecting Joseph from the Old Testament to Joseph Jesus’ earthly father by using a dream. We also are told God uses dreams with Joseph two more times. Telling him to get Jesus and Mary out of Bethlehem and flee to Egypt and then telling him to bring them back to Israel.
Obviously Joseph takes dreams seriously. Because “Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him…”. Joseph was a quiet man he worshiped God and his son by doing what the Lord asked. Which is also a form of worship.
Lord, Thank you for choosing Joseph, thank you for his quiet strength and his ability to listen and do your will without question. Help us to learn from his faith and trust in you and your will for his family. Help us to be more like Joseph. In Jesus Name Amen…Shalom Blessings and Press In and Press On!