Matthew 1:24-25 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.
In the birth of Jesus we see the appearance of God coming down to Earth. He came to save mankind from their covenant breaking spirit. For men and women are covenant breakers who cannot keep their word with others, even God. With free will, people say yes, but their hearts are self-willed, desirous to make their own decisions, their own choices. When God speaks to Joseph not to put away Mary by divorcing her, He tells Joseph, this son that is not his biologically will come to rescue man from the judgment of God. He will save his people, not only the Jewish people, but mankind itself. 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.” (Matthew 1:20-21) We see the element of faith come into the picture at this time, for Joseph has to believe this word that the angel revealed to him. He had to believe that this little baby in the flesh, at that time in utero, would be God’s instrument in saving the Jewish people from their covenant breaking hearts. If Joseph would have followed the law strictly and probably his heart’s inclination, he would have put Mary aside. Because Joseph her husband was FAITHFUL TO THE LAW, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (Matthew 1:19) This act of faith in not rejecting her on the part of Joseph allowed the appearance of God to be with mankind in the form of the biological man Jesus. Later on, we see Mary and his other children try to draw Jesus out of his ministry, for they saw Jesus as only the biological man, but Joseph had been led by the Spirit even before Jesus was born, knowing by faith that Jesus would be the gate to save people from their sins, making them acceptable to God. The era of faith in Jesus as Savior began with Joseph. From that time on we see the angel in touch with Joseph, directing him to secure Jesus’ safety. When they (the Magi) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. (Matthew 2:13) Later, after Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” (Matthew 2:19-20) Contrast Joseph’s obedience and understanding of who Jesus was with Mary and her children: Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” (Mark 3:20-21) Jesus had become and embarrassment to the family; Joseph might have been dead by this time, for he is no longer in the picture after Jesus’ early life, but Joseph obeyed God by faith at the beginning of Jesus’ life. Joseph could have believed that the visitations of the angel were just bad or errant dreams, but instead, he believed God was sending him the messages about Jesus’ existence, He who would save his people from their sins.
You, dear Christian’s friends, are part of the body of Christ, his presence on Earth as He shows forth God in you. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:3) You have been imbued with the power of God. He is in you and walks with you in your daily lives to show forth the glory of God. You do not need to have visitations by angels to direct your lives. You have the voice of God within you. As surely as the people of God heard God’s voice at Mount Sinai, you too have heard his voice or should hear his voice, for He is IN YOU. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets. (Deuteronomy 4:12-13) The children of Israel were “I do” people from their lips, but their hearts were far from God, they were covenant breakers, and eventually they were cast out of the land of Canaan, scattered throughout the world. Now, in Matthew, we see God coming down in the form of Jesus to save the covenant breakers: God’s creation. Joseph has to be dealt with directly by an angel, but he HAD TO BELIEVE a supernatural event was happening in his life. He could have ignored it, for all men are given freedom to make decisions. He did not ignore the angel, but instead based his decisions about what was happening to him and Mary by believing the angel. He was operating by faith, not by the flesh. His decisions would have been a lot easier in the flesh. He could have followed the law and put Mary aside by divorcing her. He could have stayed in Israel, where he was comfortable and secure. He could have stayed in Egypt where he probably found a nitch in their society, but no, by faith, he followed the angel’s instructions. We too must be sensitive to follow God’s directions inside of us, for we are alive IN CHRIST because the Holy Spirit abides in us. We do not seek the counsel of men, or look to other philosophies or studies. In confidence, we look to God and listen to the voice of God through the Holy Spirit. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. (1 John 2:27) With God’s leading and guidance, we will find the true and perfect will of God just as Joseph found the purposes of God for him and his family.
Paul talks about the life that we should follow in Ephesians 4. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6) We are not to ignore the Spirit within us. We have volition—that free will God has given to each of us; we can choose another direction from what the Spirit of God desires for us. We can go our own way and continue to overtly be covenant breakers; breaking covenants with man and God. In other words, we can continue breaking the laws of man and the laws of God. God has saved us through our faith in Jesus Christ; He implores us to image his goodness and likeness to the world. We have been baptized IN CHRIST to live his life for all mankind to see. Therefore, Paul says in Ephesians, be a man or woman of true faith, get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, establish by the way you live and think kindness, tenderness, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. These are the glorious attributes of the God who has been good to you by saving your souls. People of the Lord, you do not need an angel to visit you at night to instruct you about serving God or how to obey his will in your lives. You know that He desires you to display his love to all people, the good and the bad, the lovely and the unlovely, friends and enemies. You do not need any special visitation from angels from heaven to know God’s will for your lives. God’s voice is resident within you; his power to be good and holy resides in you. The Spirit of God teaches you ALL THINGS. Your responsibility is to follow the Spirit’s voice within you. As Spirit-filled people, you are to know and hear his voice, just as Joseph knew the angel was from God and his instructions should be followed. You also have his written word that the Holy Spirit will unfold to you and inspire to your hearts. Friends around the breakfast table, you should diligently follow the Spirit’s voice in everything you do as you imitate God in your life so that others might see him in your actions and reactions. Live a life full of grace, love and mercy for God has given you grace, love, and mercy in bountiful supply! Look for ways to bless others, to share the love of God and the Good News. Visit a sick person. Give a gift to someone in need. Take someone who does not get out much for a drive to see the spring trees that are flowering right now. Send an encouraging email to a friend or phone someone you have not spoken to for a while. There are many options available for us to share God’s goodness, mercy, and grace. Paul told the Ephesians to be kind to one another. (See Ephesians 4:32) Find someone to share God’s loving kindness with today. Amen!
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