Advent Day 20: Following the Difficult Call

Matthew 1:18-23 (NIV)

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 ”This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: 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. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).”

Joseph “did not want to expose her to public disgrace” and “he had in mind to divorce her quietly”.  Those are pretty potent words to sum up the kind of man that Joseph was.  He had every right to place Mary before the public and have her scorned and stoned to death, and yet, although he had at first thought himself embarrassed and wronged, Joseph’s thoughts were those of concern for Mary’s reputation. 

Joseph sought to do the right thing, which was not the easy thing.  But God would ask even more of him.  He would soon be instructed through a dream that he was to be Mary’s husband and earthly Father to the Son of God.  

Do you ever wonder what would have happened if Joseph had said “no way” to God that night?  What if he had refused to be part of this holy conspiracy to save the world?  The Bible doesn’t say much about Joseph before or after the birth of Christ, but that does not mean his was a bit part.  No, in fact, his obedience helped to pave the way for our salvation.

Through Joseph, we have been taught a very important lesson:  God values obedience over public opinion.  May we each, like Joseph, seek God’s will above all else, even when it isn’t easy.

Prayer:  Eternal God, please help us all to seek your will before our own comfort.  May we have hearts like Joseph’s and the courage to follow through with your calling on our lives. Amen