Holy Family, Our Family: 5 Lessons from Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Have you ever thought of the Holy Family as your family? Sponsored by Eden’s Table;  A three-tier, faith-rooted curriculum for Christian families, from the biblical foundations of plant medicine through terrain-based clinical herbalism. In a culture that so often dismisses, redefines, or even mocks the family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph still stand as the model God Himself chose. The Son of God was not born to a king. He was entrusted to a humble carpenter and his young wife, and raised in an ordinary home. That choice still speaks. In this episode, Felice Gerwitz begins with Isaiah’s prophecy of the shoot that sprouts from the stump of Jesse. While reading it with her family during evening devotions, one line stood out: “Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.” It sent her straight to Ephesians 6 and the armor of God, where we are told to fasten the belt of truth around our waist. The Messiah Isaiah foretold is the fulfillment of that promise and our strength in the spiritual battle we face every day. From there, Felice looks honestly at what Mary and Joseph endured. Mary returned from visiting Elizabeth visibly pregnant before she lived with Joseph. She was scorned in her own town. Joseph had to decide what to do. Neither of them could have pictured what their yes to God would cost, and they gave it anyway. Felice shares five lessons she has drawn from the life of the Holy Family: dying to self, perseverance, understanding truth, responsibility, and faith. She invites you to make your own list, even if it has only one thing on it. She also speaks plainly about a culture that talks of “individual truths.” Truth is not subjective, she reminds us. It does not change. There is one truth: God came as a babe, in humility, for me, for you, and for all. Felice reflects on the Holy Innocents, on the meaning of the Magi’s gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and on how easily we look for our glory here instead of in the life to come. She closes with a prayer for an increase of faith and for grace to overflowing, grace we can pour out to the people around us. In This Episode You’ll Hear Why the Holy Family is a model for our families, not just a scene on the mantel The connection Felice found between Isaiah 11 and the armor of God in Ephesians 6 What Mary and Joseph faced when Mary returned from Elizabeth’s home with child Five lessons from the Holy Family: dying to self, perseverance, truth, responsibility, and faith A simple exercise: what can you learn from Jesus, Mary, and Joseph? Why truth is not subjective, and why “my truth” falls short The Holy Innocents, and why death is not the end The meaning behind the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh A closing prayer for increased faith and overflowing grace Five Lessons from the Holy Family Dying to self. Saying yes to God meant a huge disruption to the life Mary and Joseph had planned. Perseverance. They pressed on through hardship, including the journey to Bethlehem for the census. Understanding truth. They may have questioned, but they believed God would provide, and He did. Responsibility. Imagine being entrusted with raising the second Person of the Holy Trinity. Faith. The faith that surpasses all understanding. “That is the faith I want, that I crave.” Your turn: What would you add to this list? What speaks to your heart as you contemplate this most holy family? Scripture Isaiah 11:1–6 (NABRE) But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide fairly for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. Ephesians 6:10–18 (NET) Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. Memorable Quotes “We don’t think of the Holy Family in terms of our lives, and we really should.” — Felice Gerwitz “Truth is not subjective. It does not change. It always is.” — Felice Gerwitz “There is only one truth, friends, the truth that God came as a babe in humility for me, for you, and for all.” — Felice Gerwitz “He doesn’t lie. He doesn’t make unfulfilled promises. He came. He lived. He died. He rose.” — Felice Gerwitz “God’s Word is everlasting. It is our rock.” — Felice Gerwitz Closing Prayer My God, there is so much to be thankful for even in times of hardship, but we have faith, the faith that You give us. Please, God, increase my faith. That is the gift I ask for more than anything else. Bless my life with the abundance of Your grace. Give me Your grace to overflowing so I can pour out this grace to others. All that is wonderful and righteous is in You, my God, and I thank You for the gift of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Amen. Connect A Few Minutes with God is part of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network. Show notes: AFewMinutesWithGodPodcast.com Visit Felice: AFewMinutesWithGod.com This episode is sponsored by Eden’s Table. Mentioned: One More Child by Felice Gerwitz, available on Amazon in print and Kindle If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave a review so more listeners can find it. The post Holy Family, Our Family: 5 Lessons from Jesus, Mary, and Joseph appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.