This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18 NIV
Matthew 1:18 gives us a clear history of how the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, came about. The biblical account ensures we know the Lord’s advent was not a made-up story. Because Jesus lived a human life from birth, His teachings serve as a beautifully relatable blueprint for us. Similarly, every believer have a clear story of how their own spiritual rebirth begins. As we examine the birth of Jesus, we can learn a great deal about preparing to be used by God in our own generation.
Mary discovered she was pregnant through the Holy Spirit before she and Joseph came together. Consequently, the people around her would not have understood the divine involvement. They likely viewed her incredible pregnancy with suspicion and shame. We can only imagine the heavy pain and misunderstanding Mary endured as an unmarried virgin carrying a child. Despite intense human doubt, nothing could prevent our Lord from achieving His eternal purpose. God was entirely intentional in His delicate process.
Preparing to be used by God through obedience
He divinely reassured Joseph, the faithful man Mary was pledged to marry. Mary was ready to do the will of God, fully accepting the immense cost and the dark uncertainty regarding her future. Joseph was deeply faithful to the law and yet incredibly righteous. For example, he chose not to expose Mary to public disgrace but planned to divorce her quietly. We see that God does not simply choose random individuals for His monumental tasks. Instead, He looks for personal alignment in the vessels He uses.
While God can transform anyone, He strictly requires our personal response and willing alignment with His divine will. We see this principle throughout Scripture. Rahab and Ruth made deliberate, personal choices to align with God’s perfect purpose rather than choosing an easier path. Joseph personally chose to be a faithful man, and Mary deliberately chose to live a pure life. God is still actively searching for ordinary men, women, and families for His beautiful divine assignments. Therefore, preparing to be used by God is highly dependent on our daily personal choices to be worthy vessels of honour.
Living It Out
Take a moment to reflect on your daily choices and personal obedience. Ask the Lord to help you align your heart with His divine will. You might gladly become a ready vessel of honour for His glorious purposes today.