Joseph: Faithful to the Spirit of God
By Caryn McLeod
East Brunswick, New Jersey USA
Scripture: Matthew 1:16, 18-25 Luke 2: 41-50
Did you make the decision to give up things to serve God? For me it was forsaking my family's strong influence, turning my Jewish identity into a church-going Christian girl, and changing my personal, but unrighteous, way of dressing. In fact most things had to be surrendered; including my pride—truckloads of it—that almost kept me from acknowledging my need for Jesus as Savior.
Likewise, Joseph the father of Jesus was called by God to make a huge decision. When we meet him in Matthew 1:18, he has been called to an unexpected turn of events. He was pledged to be married to Mary; only to find out that she was pregnant through the Holy Spirit. What? This certainly was not the Jewish custom!
Scripture says that Joseph was faithful to the law (Matthew 1:19). And according to the law, Mary could be in danger of death (Deuteronomy 22). Fortunately, Joseph was also faithful to the Spirit of God who spoke to him in a dream in the form of an angel. When the angel spoke with him, Joseph obeyed without question or argument and embraced the mission to love, cherish and protect God's plan.
In Luke 2, when Joseph appears in scripture next, Jesus has grown to the age of 12 years old, a significant age in Judaism and a traditional time of identity seeking. After a family trip to the temple, Jesus goes missing. When they finally find Him three days later, His mother tells Him, “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you” (Luke 2:48). Jesus answers saying, “Didn't you know I had to be in MY Father's house?” (emphasis added) Ouch!
Joseph took a bride whose pregnancy was not his, and raised a son who reminded him that he was not his father. He protected his family, provided for his family, looked after and trained his son in carpentry (Mark 6:3), as he stood in as a father for the necessary time.
Questions for Reflection:
- What decisions has God called you to make to serve Him?
- In which ways is He asking you to stretch your commitment to Him at this time in life?
- Joseph's life was significant in history for a time. Let us thank God for the opportunity to be used by Him in this season.
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