In considering this chapter and trying to really find a point of application for myself there is a sense of conflict and a real question that I have about how much I can really apply from this story. I mean this is the SON OF GOD's BIrth story.
Yes, I have a birth story and yes, it is pretty amazing that I even came to be and even more so I can say that about my children because I actually lived out that story and how I met Dwayne and how our "family" came to be.
But this is CHRIST birth story.
But then I stop and think. GOD ordained every word that was written for our instruction: 2 Tim. 3:16 " All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; That the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." So with that I have to be confident that yes! Even in the birth story of CHRIST there is something I need to learn so that I will be adequately equipped for every good work!
I guess for me personally this story really hits home. While I can't share my own story in full. I know personally that God ordained my life in such a way that He truly did provide for me a Husband who was a righteous man who was still before His Father in Heaven to make a decision to marry me. It wasn't that I was unworthy but I had a lot of baggage that Dwayne was willing to accept and willing to trust the Lord in His choice of me as a wife for my husband. So for me I guess it made me feel a sense of humility and pride. Now don't read more into what I said. I am not in any way shape or form comparing my life to that of Mary's . However, I have been afforded some of what Mary was afforded when God gave her Joseph as a husband. I can identify if you will with Her position. And it makes me realize how much I need to GRATEFUL for and how much sometimes I take for granted what the LORD HAS GIVEN ME and BLESSED ME WITH!
So, that is my conflict. In one sense this is the story of CHRIST. THE SON OF GOD. I guess most of my life I've taken this as a story of HIS beginning and never really considered that there maybe something that GOD had intended for me to learn from this story. I have never heard anyone teach a lesson of application from this story. So it was something I had to really think through before sharing with you. Secondly, I could identify some with Mary's story yet this was about Joseph and it dawned on me what kind of man he was. It again, made me just realize how much I have taken for granted in my own life and how I need to be reminded of God's graciousness and mercy. But to also realize that Joseph and Mary were just a piece of the whole puzzle and while their experience was important it was about something much bigger.
Well, with all that said, I guess I can honestly say, I've pondered this chapter a lot. I love it when I read the WORD of GOD and it really resonates with in my soul. I hope as you read this chapter there is something that resonates deep with you.
So, let's dig in the Word and see what Father has for us today!
Joseph and Mary both encountered the Angel of the Lord. Both took time to consider what could have happened and what options they had before them. Both had different concerns yet both TRUSTED and were OBEDIENT.
They truly were Faithful, obedient and trustworthy servants.
The Genealogy of Christ is significant because it did fulfill prophecy as we read on in Matt. we will see this and for this reason it is valuable for us to realize that God prepared YEARS before Christ's arrival the way for HIM. Then he chose 2 vessels to be the instruments by which 1. Christ would be brought into the world 2. Christ would be raised by .
Something I read shared that in these days the boy child would be in the mother's care until a certain age and then the Father took over the training and instruction. It was not a small thing for Joseph to be called to be his dad and it is also the first real example of ADOPTION. Joseph was of NO relation to JESUS. He willingly accepted Christ as his son. That is just amazing! NOW tell me that isn't COOL! I've never heard anyone use JESUS as the example for those who were adopted. What an important thing for children of adoption. Jesus understands their issues.
The birth story in verses 18-25 have some very important things to note.
1. Joseph didn't just make a swift decision on what he would do about this situation. He took time to think about them. The word says, " he considered"....... As he was considering he fell asleep. This is when the Angel of the Lord spoke to him. I've really thought about this a lot and I think this is a great example of what we ought to do more of. Take time to consider what the Lord would have us do. Using the spiritual discipline of solitude time. Realizing that in order to hear from GOD we must be still and quiet ourselves; in order to hear Him.
* This is something I want to develop more in my life and to become disciplined to take time to "be still" enough to hear from the Lord. When we were working among an unreached people group, Dwayne and I would often times take time away to bestill before the Lord. We felt it was so important because of the task that was laid out before us. I am sorry to say that we have some how forgotten our need of His direction. I guess for me personally I felt more dependance on God when I was doing something that I had never done before and I felt I needed His direction and guidance. Now in a more admin position I guess we tend to "trust" our skills and experience more and while this is okay. I don't think God intended us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. I really felt convicted over this and maybe you read this and had similar feelings.
There is a good book called: Spiritual disciplines by Dallas Willard. He breaks down the spiritual disciplines and gives sound biblical background to why we need to be using these daily in our life. One of the disciplines is : Solitude time, where you take time out of your schedule to seek the lord and seek HIS LEADING. I like to think of it as going to him for Directions..... I have deceived myself to thinking that my prayer time is enough and ladies the truth is - it isn't. I need to take 2-3 days and spend it with the LORD alone and focused on hearing from HIM. Learning once again to BE still before HIM. *
2. Once Joseph heard from the Angel of the Lord he obeyed. He trusted and walked in obedience. He really did have FAITH. Maybe there was a sense of FEAR of the LORD there too. He knew the history of his people and he took seriously the fact that God had chosen him.
* sometimes I am very arrogant to think I actually have a choice. I love how Paul writes, "A bondservant of CHRIST" a servant doesn't have the choice to do what his master tells him. He must do it. I sometimes take my freedoms way beyond their intended boundaries. Just like my children do when they have been given some freedoms it is inevitable that they walk beyond them and as a result I have to discipline them to bring them back into right thinking. As I prayed and thought about this the Lord began revealing areas of my life where I've not walked in total obedience. I need to get back to total ABANDONMENT of self and be willing to do WHATEVER Is asked! I love the story that Beth Moore has shared about her experience in the airport. She wrote that there was a man in a wheel chair and he was handicapped and his hair was matted and obviously not combed. When she looked at him she knew immediately that the Holy Spirit was giving her a task. Yep. to comb his hair. She shared the struggle with in her but she came to the realization that she needed to abandon her thinking and do what was being asked. She did and the end of the story was so sweet. The man was truly touched by her willingness to help comb his hair. The point here is when I read about Joseph and Mary, I realized that I have not been faithful to walk in total abandonment. *
3. Joseph didn't fully understand nor did he have the BIG picture of what his part would play in it all. All he knew was that at this point he had to take Mary as his wife and to raise this son of GOD as his own. He did this and was faithful.
I think we will become even more aware of how closely Mary and Joseph walked with God and what examples they are to us as we walk with the Lord. Remember to take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you something and to point out what it is He has for you today in the READING OF HIS WORD!
Lord, thank you for the lessons and examples we've been given from Your birth story. Thank you Lord for how you walk with us literally and how you direct every step we take. Lord I pray that today as events unfold that I would walk in such a way that I would be mindful of when I need to stop and "consider" what I need to do or even say. Lord, help me to realize that I too have a purpose in Your Plan. Lord, that I would be found faithful and trustworthy when you speak to me. That I would trust You and obey you even though I may not understand all that is happening.
Lord, I confess that I am arrogant at times and that I allow my pride to stand in the way of my obedience. I desire to have the " Fear of the Lord" instilled in my life so that I may truly walk in such a way that I may truly see myself as a "bond servant".
Thank you Lord for calling me out, for saving me, for finding me worthy to be called your CHILD! Thank you Lord for all you've given me. Thank you for such a blessed life!
It is in YOUR NAME I pray,
The name of JESUS~
AMEN.............
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