Thursday, December 6, 2007
Matthew 1:19-20, 24 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife.
PREPARING FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST WITH HUMBLE SUBMISSON: JOSEPH
According to God's plan, Mary was to be the mother of the Christ Child, who would be God's own Son. Also, according to God's plan, Joseph was the man chosen to fulfill the role of father as the Boy grew up. God had planned that Joseph would be Jesus' stepfather, so to speak.
From the Scriptures, we don't know much about this man, but from what we do hear about him, I think we begin to see why God was intent upon this man being the earthly father figure in His Son's life. From the Scripture reading above, we see that Joseph was a decent and caring man. Even when it appeared that the woman who was to become his wife had betrayed him, he was ultimately thinking of her well-being. He did not want her to become a public example to be shunned and ridiculed. More importantly, it would seem that God wanted Joseph to be the stepfather of His own Son because Joseph was a man that listened to the things that God told him.
When an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him that Mary had not been unfaithful to him, but that she was pregnant as a result of being chosen for the special purpose of being the mother of the Son of God, Joseph humbly laid aside his own reason, logic, and probably even hurt feelings, submitting to God and His Word.
As we prepare for the coming of our Savior, Jesus, may God grant us humble submission to hear and believe His Word.
