18th Dec_Advent Devotions 2025 _ WOH

“FOUND TO BE WITH CHILD”Thursday, December 18, 2025TEXT: Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with Child from the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)Those words “She was found to be with Child” show a major shock to Mary’s family. Because in that time and culture, nobody would have wanted to find out that their daughter was pregnant—especially when the father was not the man she was engaged to! I suspect there was a lot of screaming and yelling!Someone would have had to break the news to him. Depending on how Joseph took it, that could ruin the family’s reputation. Mary had just spent three months living with a family who believed her story. Now she was back home, and probably facing conflict, anger, fear, and shame. Did Mary try to tell her family the truth? Did they refuse to listen? This is the world Jesus would be born into—a world filled with pain and fear and shame, a world where even those who love each other still suffer from distrust and grief.It’s what Jesus came to fix—the effects of sin and evil on our lives. He would give up His own life to set us free from that. He would even rise from the dead to give us new life, life forever—filled with peace, trust, and love for God and each other. WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, I’m so glad You came to help us in our need. Thank You. Amen.Reflection Questions:·         If you had been part of Mary’s family, would you have believed her story about the child being from the Holy Spirit?·         Why or why not?·         How do you think Mary found the strength to make it through this time?Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.