We have entered a new year and left Christmas behind...all my Christmas decorations are boxed up
and back in the garage till next year. Yet, I couldn't help but wonder if we ever "box up" parts of the Christmas story in our mind? If we are prone to only "visit" Mary and Joseph in the pages of Scripture when December rolls around? Prayerfully, their testimonies are ones that we seek to glean from and grow from throughout the year. Right now, I have been thinking about Joseph.
"The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins...when Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord's angel had commanded him." Matthew 1:18-21, 24
Have you ever wondered why God allowed Joseph to "consider" what to do with Mary when he found out she was pregnant? God could have told him right away, as soon as he found out Mary was pregnant. No time for his stomach to drop, his heart to pound out of his chest, for him to feel sick, or for his hands to start shaking as he began to contemplate and work through scenarios. Yet, God gave him time to consider.
In fact, if you were to read through Hebrews 11, I think you might see that one of the marks of many of those known and praised for their faith in Christ were those who "considered":
- Sarah considered the faithfulness of God, who promised her a son and she received power to conceive (vs. 11)
- Abraham considered that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead, enabling him to obey when God asked him to kill Isaac (vs. 19)
- Moses considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, as he looked forward to the reward that could only come from God (vs. 26)
It made me pause and think about what it means to consider and the importance of "considering" in my own life. The word consider means: to think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision; to think about and be drawn toward (a course of action). In considering, I have to think. I actually have to stop what I am doing, halt from the pressures and busyness of my life, find a quiet spot (even if it's only in my own mind) to think about the situation, person, or opportunity at hand. And it's not just random, quick thoughts...they must be careful thoughts. Contemplative thoughts. Thoughts with a goal in mind and a purpose outside myself. Considering requires that I don't look at my own wants and desires but fix my eyes on Christ and His Word. To biblically "consider" I must seek what His will would be for a given situation and ask for wisdom in how to flesh that out in my life. Considering requires total dependence on the Lord.
Who knows how many hours God waited before declaring His plan to Joseph. Who knows how long Joseph was left considering and planning before the Lord intervened with clarification and clear direction for what Joseph was to do. One thing we do know is that Joseph's life, from that moment on, was unlike any other man's that ever walked on the earth and there would be an incredible dependence on God as they took each step from Nazareth to Bethlehem to Egypt and back again. It started with Joseph considering...it's a worthy character trait to emulate.
May we live 2018 with a spirit of consideration and the goal of glorifying our Lord and Savior in all things!
"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36
"The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins...when Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord's angel had commanded him." Matthew 1:18-21, 24
Have you ever wondered why God allowed Joseph to "consider" what to do with Mary when he found out she was pregnant? God could have told him right away, as soon as he found out Mary was pregnant. No time for his stomach to drop, his heart to pound out of his chest, for him to feel sick, or for his hands to start shaking as he began to contemplate and work through scenarios. Yet, God gave him time to consider.
In fact, if you were to read through Hebrews 11, I think you might see that one of the marks of many of those known and praised for their faith in Christ were those who "considered":
- Sarah considered the faithfulness of God, who promised her a son and she received power to conceive (vs. 11)
- Abraham considered that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead, enabling him to obey when God asked him to kill Isaac (vs. 19)
- Moses considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, as he looked forward to the reward that could only come from God (vs. 26)
It made me pause and think about what it means to consider and the importance of "considering" in my own life. The word consider means: to think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision; to think about and be drawn toward (a course of action). In considering, I have to think. I actually have to stop what I am doing, halt from the pressures and busyness of my life, find a quiet spot (even if it's only in my own mind) to think about the situation, person, or opportunity at hand. And it's not just random, quick thoughts...they must be careful thoughts. Contemplative thoughts. Thoughts with a goal in mind and a purpose outside myself. Considering requires that I don't look at my own wants and desires but fix my eyes on Christ and His Word. To biblically "consider" I must seek what His will would be for a given situation and ask for wisdom in how to flesh that out in my life. Considering requires total dependence on the Lord.
Who knows how many hours God waited before declaring His plan to Joseph. Who knows how long Joseph was left considering and planning before the Lord intervened with clarification and clear direction for what Joseph was to do. One thing we do know is that Joseph's life, from that moment on, was unlike any other man's that ever walked on the earth and there would be an incredible dependence on God as they took each step from Nazareth to Bethlehem to Egypt and back again. It started with Joseph considering...it's a worthy character trait to emulate.
May we live 2018 with a spirit of consideration and the goal of glorifying our Lord and Savior in all things!
"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36
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