You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Sunday, Dec 20 - Who Am I (2)?<br />
No nativity is complete without the man hand-picked by God to be the step-father of His Son,<br />
namely, Joseph. What a responsibility! I often wonder what kind of thoughts ran through<br />
Joseph's mind as <strong>Jesus</strong> was growing? What kind<br />
of man was he?<br />
Very little is said about Joseph in Scripture. Most<br />
of what we know about Joseph is found in<br />
Matthew's account of the story.<br />
His genealogy was impeccable.<br />
His reputation was faultless.<br />
In the spiritual arena, Joseph's way of thinking,<br />
feeling, and acting were "wholly conformed to the<br />
will of God" (meaning of the Gk word, dikaios, translated "just").<br />
Physically, he was a strong man - a carpenter by trade (my husband comes from a family of<br />
carpenters, so this I know by experience).<br />
In matters of the heart, he wrestled to do right. It's obvious, where Mary was concerned, Joseph<br />
was torn between "law" and "love"...but above all, he was "unwilling to put Mary to shame" (that<br />
speaks of a pretty tender soul).<br />
He was quick to obedience, yet patient in practice. As soon as the angel spoke to him in a<br />
dream, Joseph believed... His belief turned to quick action. True belief always moves to quick<br />
action. This is repeated about Joseph with every move he and Mary made.<br />
On the other hand, Joseph was a patient man...He was willing to wait on intimacy. To me this<br />
speaks of great love, not just for God, but for his wife. After all, one of the first attributes listed<br />
for true love is patience.<br />
These are my favorite God-words about Joseph:<br />
When Joseph awoke form sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his<br />
wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son.<br />
Matthew 1:24<br />
If I'm a Joseph, then I'm willing to wrestle with tension that often comes between "law"<br />
and "love." I am patient in practice as I wait on God's timing, but quick to obedience<br />
when God speaks.<br />
Am I a Joseph?<br />
Are you?<br />
30