What if you were given a present for Christmas, but you were told you had to wait until next year before you could open it? Directions allowed you to hold this gift and bring this with you if you traveled, but you couldn’t open this gift under any circumstances. This is essentially what happened to Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. You can marry Mary, but you won’t be able to consecrate your marriage until Jesus is born.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place under these circumstances: When His mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant [through the power] of the Holy Spirit. 19 And her [promised] husband Joseph, being a just and upright man and not willing to expose her publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly, Matthew 1:18-19.
According to Jewish law, Joseph could have Mary stoned for committing adultery. Rather than ending Mary’s life and making a scene, Joseph decided to move forward with a divorce in private. However, one night while Joseph was asleep, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The lesson that God was trying to teach Joseph is imagine what God can do in your life through one moment of obedience because of this dream.
But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary [as] your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of (from, out of) the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from [a]failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God]. 22 All this took place that it might be fulfilled which the Lord had spoken through the prophet, 23 Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel—which, when translated, means, God with us. 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him: he took [her to his side as] his wife. 25 But he had no union with her as her husband until she had borne her firstborn Son; and he called His name Jesus, Matthew 1:20-25.
From a human perspective, it’s nearly impossible to fully understand how God can work through one moment of obedience. Thanks to instant gratification, often by using credit cards to get what you want now, waiting for God’s blessings has become a lost art. Yet, when you cling to God’s promise like Joseph in this dream, blessings will come in various forms. In view of Joseph’s act of faith, don’t cut corners this Christmas season. Rather, hold fast to faith by being open to God’s calls for daily obedience in life.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 