My son had to write a sermon for one of his Internship classes. He had to use the first couple of chapters of Matthew. Talk about a hard task!
I was amazed at what he came up with. He used Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, as an example of following through with God’s plan. Joseph knew he was not the father of Mary’s baby, and by law he had the right to stone her to death. He took what God had planned, and ran with it- regardless of what others would think and what they would say about him and Mary. Joseph was a man of integrity and a heart after God.
He loved his wife, and raised Jesus as his own son. He taught Jesus what he did for a trade- carpentry. He provided for his family and saw that they were safe.
I wonder how much Joseph concerned himself with the fact that Jesus was not really his own son, by birth. I don’t think he was concerned at all. I think he felt special, like God was trusting him to raise the Savior of the world. What an honor, in the midst of a world where he could have been scorned for raising another man’s son.
How often do we accept the hard things we are faced with as being a stepping stone to the plan of God in our lives? When things get tough, do we look to the Lord for guidance, or do we throw in the towel and give up and give in?
In our marriages, do we look for the good that can come out of the hard times? Do we struggle to go on, being tempted to give up? Or do we place it in God’s hands and trust Him to change us, allowing ourselves to become who He wants us to be?
The things Mary and Joseph faced, to bring us God’s plan for eternal life, are nothing compared to the things we face. Don’t give up, be willing to change, and good things will follow
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