Read: Matthew 1:18-2:23
But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (1:20).
Joseph, did you want to pack your tools, / head to some place / where nobody whispered / there goes Mary’s fool? So begins the lyric Joseph, an intimate portrayal of the man God chose to raise Jesus, penned by songwriters Don Poythress and Tony Wood.
As an adult, Jesus offered this truth to his disciple, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (John 20:29). Did he learn that from his earthly father, perhaps? Because before Jesus took his first earthly breath, Joseph had lived it out. He saw no evidence that his fiancée hadn’t betrayed him, or why he should spare her life. He received no personal visit from Gabriel telling him what was going on, where to go, when to walk, when to run, or how to parent the Son of God. He heard angels in dreams, we are told. And he chose to act on their messages with profound faith. What kind of man does that? Surely not a shallow, worldly man for whom image is most important; but a brave one, one who wars for, protects, and defends those whom God has given to him to love.
Prayer: Giver of good gifts, like Joseph, will you make me a spouse, parent, friend, and co-laborer who can be trusted to seek and follow your will with profound certainty, even when I cannot see.
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
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