Joseph, Oh Joseph— What were you thinking?

Merry Christmas! Throughout this month, the joyous Christmas story will be celebrated in plays, explained in sermons, and discussed at family gatherings. The main list of characters will be talked about: Mary giving birth to the baby Jesus, the arrival of the wise men, the announcement of the angels, and an inquisitive visit from the shepherds.

Joseph always seems to be in the background. Besides witnessing everything mentioned above, it started with hearing that his fiancé, Mary, was pregnant. He had been visited by an angel in a dream who told him God was the Father. Come on! Really? He would be raising the Messiah. He would be playing hide and seek with God. He would be teaching carpentry to the creator of the universe.

Joseph is ordered to take Mary to a stable where she gives birth lying on straw next to smelly animals.

What do you suppose Joseph was thinking during all of this? “I never imagined my life was going to be like this.” Could he have been stunned, felt powerless, or scared? Could he have been confused because he was certainly unaccustomed to all of this? Regardless of all the potentially difficult thoughts Joseph could be thinking, it is obvious Joseph was obedient.

Do you suppose this is what God saw in Joseph? Probably God thought, “I can trust this man to raise my son!”

It is no different with us. The way we envision our lives turning out is not the way God envisions them turning out. We very well may be like Joseph— wondering what is going on around us. But even today, God is still looking for obedient men and women like Joseph.

God calling Joseph to raise His son was totally unique. God must have equipped him.

God does the same for us. God has equipped us with gifts and talents for a specific purpose. God wants us to use them to bring Him glory. Are we able to say yes to God like Joseph did? It is not always clear or easy. Joseph agreed to leave his orderly life and step out in faith. He trusted God. Can we choose to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5.

We may not be like Joseph and have the Messiah grow up in our house, but we can ask Jesus to live in our hearts. It still is a great experience.

The inspiration to write about Joseph this month comes from the men’s small group I have the privilege of being in. We just finished studying the life of Joseph. There are many small groups at Westbrook for men, women, and couples. The learning and support are great. Any man, feel free to join ours which meets biweekly at 7:00 a.m. Wednesdays at the church. Contact the church for information on any group.