First, remember the circumstances that were unfolding 2,000 years ago. Mary was pledged to him in marriage and all of a sudden, she told him she was pregnant and he knew he was not the father. If you were Joseph, how would you react? Of Joseph, we learn that he was a righteous man, kind, obedient and trusting of the Lord. He re-oriented his life to support God's will. Note these words from Matthew 1:18-25. . .
Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 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.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. | We find that Joseph set aside what he wanted to do and did what he needed to do. God had a purpose for him and he pursued it. Now roll forward to some day down the road and you have now passed on - and ponder if people asked the question; what type of man you were? Would they be good words or not so? Let's not be disappointed in what others may say some day - now is the time to use all that we have learned and to 'Step Up'. |