Title: Christmas Series | Joseph’s Character
Date:
Christmas is a great time for teaching. The season provides many opportunities for parents to pass down their faith. We don’t always think about using the story of the Birth of Jesus as a teaching tool, yet it has so many applications to teach our kids. In Base Camp, we focus on Loving God, Loving Others, and Sharing the Gospel. Those things aren’t always easy, but God asks us to do them.
Joseph’s Character
Imagine this… Joseph is engaged to be married and everything is going well. He has a good job and he is counting the days until he will be married, until he discovers his fiancée is pregnant. Since he has lived in a biblical way, it is not possible that the child is his.
Before knowing this is God’s child, he plans to divorce her quietly because he doesn’t want to expose her to ridicule and public disgrace (Matthew 1:19). I find this fascinating and this scripture truly tells you what kind of guy Joseph really was…a good one.
He had every right to stand up and claim how he had been wronged.
He had every right to go around town and talk poorly about Mary.
He had every right to be angry with her and feel betrayed.
He had every right to expose her behavior.
He had every right to let the entire town know that it was her fault, not his.
Even though he has been wronged, he chose to act in a loving and godly manner. Shortly after this, the angel appears to Joseph and lets him know that he has not been wronged and explain what happened. The angel said,
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Our behaviors and our actions tell people about our character. Joseph’s actions showed that he was kind. They showed that he was compassionate and caring. They also showed that even though he would have been justified in his actions, he chose to be godly and love Mary in his response.
How does this turn into a lesson for my kids? It’s simple…loving others is the right thing to do, even if you feel they have wronged you.
Your partner in ministry,
Family Life Pastor
