
Week 1 – Pursuit of Love
Day 1 – Unashamed Love (Matthew 1:18–25)
Read Matthew 1:18¬25
What? (describe what happened in the story in your own words)
So what? (what this passage means to you in your own life.)
Now what? (what you are going to do differently because of this passage.)
Unashamed Love
Joseph had every right to back out. The woman he was betrothed to marry was pregnant, and the child was not his. Anyone in their right mind would bow out at that point. But not Joseph. He stayed. No doubt there were skeptics. People probably talked behind their backs and questioned their character. But he stayed with Mary. He loved her, and he was unashamed of that love. He endured the ridicule and mockery that was to come because of his love for her and the unborn Christ.
The unspoken love discussed in this passage is the same love that the God of the universe put on display when He stepped out of Heaven into Earth to be completely dependent on a human. By sending Jesus, the Holy Creator of everything was willing to come to Earth and join a bunch of people who would eventually reject Him and kill Him.
This begins our pursuit of Christ. Jesus pursued us unashamedly, and now our response is to pursue a life that honors and glorifies Him.
Study Questions:
Why did Joseph stay? Give me more than, “An angel talked to him.”
What is the significance of the two names given to our savior? Google the meaning of each.
Application Questions:
If you were Joseph, how do you think you would have responded to this situation?
How will you respond, knowing that Christ has unashamedly loved you?