Be a Joseph

Our missionary team spent the whole summer in several Old Testament books like Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and Esther. On September 1, we turned back to the New Testament. While reading Matthew 1, I was struck by the life of Joseph. We do not know a whole lot about Joseph and his life. In fact, for such a big player in the biblical narrative, we know very little. Yet, his life is quite remarkable. And it got me thinking, “I want to be a Joseph.”

Matthew 1:18-25 says,

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

If I had to describe Joseph using a simple phrase it would be… A man of sacrifice.

Look at these things he sacrificed:

• Social Status- he married Mary in spite of the consequences this conception story would bring about among their family, friends, and society.

• Safety- he wasn’t aware of this when he set out on their journey to Bethlehem, but after Jesus was to be born this family would be on the run, living in secret, and avoiding people who wanted to kill their newborn child.

• Sex- most men I know are pretty excited about their wedding night and the weeks to follow. Joseph is no exception. I expect he had kept himself pure according to the Law, and is eager to enjoy the pleasure gifted to a husband and wife. Yet, for the sake of this child, he and Mary would forsake this gift and right until the miracle baby had been born.

Why would Jospeh sacrifice these, and likely more? We could probably give some pretty good guesses to this question. But I wonder if they could all be summarized in one little phrase:

Jesus is worth it.

I found myself reflecting on the things in my life I’ve had to sacrifice simply because Jesus is worth it. Yet, He calls me deeper still. Yes, I may have sacrificed several things to become a missionary, but I’m not void of this continued calling on my life.

You aren’t either.

Let that sink in. No matter what you think you’ve given up to follow Jesus, there is always more. Stop putting limits on the things God might ask you to sacrifice. Actually, as I write this I’m a little convicted by my word choice. Let me say it this way. When you became a follower of Jesus, you offered your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him. You essentially said, “my life is not my own.” So why do you keep living as if your life belongs to you?

Joseph knew that he was sacrificing much to take Mary as his wife. Yet, he was willing to do so because Jesus is worth it.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus is worth it. Go live like that is true.