She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.- Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
In Matthew 1:18-25, we are introduced to Jesus’ adoptive father, Joseph. After the first seventeen verses of genealogy that show Jesus’ connection to Abraham and David, we meet this simple carpenter who would be His earthly role model. Scripture gives us little detail of Joseph’s state of mind after receiving the news of Mary’s pregnancy. However, putting ourselves in his shoes, we can assume he was hurt, confused, and filled with doubt. We can be sure tongues wagged. Mary was likely regarded by neighbors in less than flattering terms and Joseph as naive. Yet, setting aside all these human feelings, he obeyed God.
Just as Joseph faced his own doubts and uncertainties, we too encounter moments of confusion, hurt, and doubt in our faith journeys. It's easy to let our emotions dictate our actions, yet Joseph's story reminds us of the importance of trusting and obeying God. Reflecting on Joseph’s story, we see a profound example of how setting aside human emotions to follow God's plan can lead to unique blessings and honor. Imagine if Joseph had chosen differently—God's plan would still have unfolded, but Joseph would have missed the incredible role he was destined to play. Despite facing intense personal emotions, his obedience shows us that faith and trust in God often require us to move beyond our immediate feelings.
In our own lives, we often encounter situations where our emotions—fear, doubt, anger, or sadness—can cloud our judgment and make it difficult to follow God's guidance. However, just as Joseph did, we are called to:
Trust in God's Plan: Believing that God's plan is greater than our understanding can give us the courage to act in faith, even when our emotions tell us otherwise. This trust is rooted in knowing God sees the bigger picture and has our best interests at heart.
Act Despite Uncertainty: Like Joseph, we may not fully understand the reasons behind God's call, but our obedience can lead to blessings and outcomes that we cannot foresee. This requires a leap of faith, where we prioritize God's will over our feelings.
Experience Growth and Transformation: By stepping beyond our emotions and obeying God, we allow ourselves to be transformed. This process can strengthen our faith, build our character, and deepen our relationship with God.
Impact on Others: Our obedience can significantly affect those around us. Joseph's obedience affected not only his own life but also the lives of Mary, Jesus, and, ultimately, the entire world. Similarly, our actions, rooted in faith, can influence and inspire others.
Reflecting on Joseph's example, we are reminded that our faith journey often requires us to move beyond our immediate emotions and trust God. By doing so, we open ourselves to His transformative work that can positively impact those around us. Let us follow Joseph's example of obedience and faith, knowing God's plan for us is good and purposeful.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Joseph's example of obedience and trust in Your plan despite his personal emotions and uncertainties. Help us follow his example in our lives, setting aside our hurt, confusion, fears, and doubts, and faithfully obey Your call. Strengthen our faith and guide us to trust in Your more excellent plan, knowing that You have our best interests at heart. May our obedience bring blessings to us and those around us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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