(This was the second in a series of blog posts written for the Men of Christmas online Bible Study where we considered three men who played key roles in the story of Christmas.)
JOSEPH
The second of the men of Christmas that we are looking at is Joseph. He is the husband of Mary and the man God chooses to be the earthly dad of Jesus Christ.
The story of Joseph is found in Matthew 1:18-25.
A FATHER’S RESPONSIBILITY
When I became a father for the first time I can remember how my wife and I were finally able to take our daughter home from the hospital. (My wife had to stay an extra five days due to a fever.)
And I can also remember myself holding that little one in my arms in the hospital parking lot as the nurse handed her to me and I was standing there thinking, “Wow. I’m totally responsible for this life. She’s completely dependent on me and what I do or don’t do.” It was an overwhelming responsibility as I considered it. (That little daughter of mine is now 22. They grow up too fast, don’t they?)
But here’s Joseph in much the same position I was in. His responsibility is the same. And yet, in many more ways, it’s much different as He holds the Son of God in his arms. Can you just imagine that?
A FATHER’S FOUNDATION
And to get there (to the point of holding the Son of God in his arms as the earthly dad of Jesus Christ) Joseph has the foundation (of a godly character) already developed ahead of time that could handle such a responsibility .
This “foundation” of Joseph is meant for every father, husband and man.
And Joseph’s foundation is displayed in four godly characteristics, the first of which I only have time to talk about in this post.
JOSEPH CONTROLS HIMSELF SEXUALLY
The first godly characteristic of Joseph is based on the following verse…
“[And Joseph] kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son.” (Matthew 1:25a)
And there are so many who will consider this old-fashioned and not with the times, but that’s okay. These that do will miss out on what God has for them and they’ll never do great things for God and be used in a mighty way. It’s their choice as the point I want to make here and it’s Joseph’s godly characteristic #1 that ought to be ours (if you’re a guy, read it twice):
Joseph controls himself sexually before and during marriage.
It’s a good thing to wait to have sex until you’re married. (Yes, I should have heard an “Amen” there.) Many people have unfortunately learned the hard way that it’s a good thing to wait because they didn’t. And there are many who are paying the price in their minds and emotions and socially and physically because they didn’t wait.
Of course, the trauma of abortion is the obvious example ~ that Planned Parenthood conveniently forgets to tell you about. A life is tragically ended. But more than that ~ the life that continues, the mother’s is tragically affected (and father’s, too?!).
It affects many areas when a person doesn’t wait.
It’s a good point for our day and age and as we’re reminded about it from Joseph’s life. He waits. It’s part of God’s plan that he does. Mary must be a virgin if she is to bear the Christ Child. The prophets have predicted it. And so God must find a man, first of all, who has self-control in the area of sex to be Jesus’ dad. It’s a requirement. And thankfully there is somebody! (I don’t know. Was there only one?) Joseph meets the requirement.
It’s not a bad thing to be sexually pure. God uses these types of men and women.
TRUSTWORTHY IN LITTLE THINGS, TRUSTWORTHY IN BIG
And I don’t know if Joseph endured teasing as a boy growing up. As boys do, they tease each other in this area of sexuality and challenge each other. It’s true!
The bottom line is Joseph doesn’t give in to it. He’s trustworthy in little things. And so now ~ and little does Joseph know it will have everything to do with what God has for him later in life ~ And so now Joseph’s granted to be used in a mighty way by God because God knows He can trust him in the area of sex.
FINAL THOUGHTS
And Joseph controls himself sexually during marriage/while he’s married, also. (“[And Joseph] kept her a virgin until she gave birth.”)
And if you can’t control yourself in this manner prior to being married, you won’t be able to do it after being married.
And sexual control and controlling yourself sexually goes beyond just when you’re single. We honor our wives and kids and are the kind of example our kids need in a depraved culture when we’re a “one woman” man.
Do you have a problem with pornography? (Seek out your pastor for help.)
Job, in defending his innocence before God, said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman.” (Job 31:1; New Living Bible) Job was committed to this area of sexual purity. We ought to be, too, whether we’re a male or female, no matter our age.
(Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus picture above is in the public domain: click here. PD-US)
About Pastor Mike
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