December 22

JOSEPH: JESUS FORETOLD

Matthew 1:18-25

Most of us have heard of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  He died on the Cross and rose again on the third day, so that we can have eternal life, but only if we believe in Him as our Lord and Savior, and allow Him to work in our lives.  Joseph is a prime example of obedience, because he believed in God’s call for his life.

Joseph was pledged to be married to Mary when they found out that she was pregnant.  According to the law, she would have been stoned for getting pregnant before marriage, so Joseph decided that he would quietly divorce her in order to protect her.  But, an angel of the Lord came and told him in a dream that he should still marry her and love her and support her: “…do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (vs. 21)  The angel told him that the baby was from God, and when He was born, Joseph was to name Him Jesus, because He would save the world of their sins.  Joseph thought he had it all figured out, but God’s plan was greater.  God knew what was best for Joseph and his family, because He created them.  Joseph surrendered to God, and he took Mary home as his wife.  When she gave birth to her son, he named Him Jesus.  If Joseph had not trusted in God and done His complete will, the life and ministry of Jesus would not have come to pass in the way that it did, and he would not have received the blessing.

We must remember that God has our lives in the palm of His hands, and He knows every step that we must take.  We need to surrender to the plan He has for us, and trust that He knows what He’s doing, because He does!  Obviously, we can’t predict the future, but I know that I have often wanted to be able to see what will happen and where I’ll be a few years down the road.  It would make it easier for me to make decisions now, because I would be able to see how they would impact my life.  But, since I can’t, the only thing I can do is trust in God.  That is the one thing we can learn from Joseph’s life—no matter what decisions come our way, God is above all and He can guide us through.

“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’"  (vss. 22 23)  God had prophesied through Isaiah the prophet many, many years before, that a savior would be born into the world, and it all came to pass.  Will we trust God that He knows the best plan for our lives?  

~ Kimberly Frantz