Imagine you were engaged and found out your bride to be was pregnant?
What would you do? Would you verbally ‘take down’ your fiancée and publicly expose her betrayal?
Would you quietly walk away, “cancelling” her from your life?
Or would you try to work it out?
This is the situation Joseph found himself in. How he handled it, and how he loved those around him through it all, is worth digging into.
What we know about Joseph
At the beginning of his gospel, Matthew scribes Joseph’s lineage from Abraham, through David, Solomon and Hezekiah.
We know Joseph was the son of Jacob and a carpenter by trade. For a better understanding of his life, in those days, carpenters were involved in a broad range of craftsmanship, which included working with stone and sometimes metal. They were more like general builders involved in things like cutting and fitting limestone blocks for buildings, crafting roof beams, as well as constructing door frames, yokes, plows, and household furniture.
When Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy, before he knew of the Holy Spirit’s involvement, he chose not to accuse her or disgrace her, but to divorce her quietly. He was a righteous man. [1]
Later, an angel visited him in a dream and instructed him not to fear, but to take Mary as his wife. The angel informed him about her conception by the Holy Spirit and that they would name her son Jesus. Joseph trusted and obeyed. [2]
To honor what was happening, Joseph kept Mary a virgin until Jesus was born. [3]
Because Joseph was from the line of David, he traveled from Galilee to Bethlehem to register in the census ordered by Quirinus. While there, Joseph sought a place for Mary to have her baby. Since there were no vacancies, Joseph secured shelter for her in a stable. When Jesus was born, He was laid in a manger. [4]
Joseph obeyed God’s command and named the boy Jesus. After eight days, Joseph had Jesus circumcised. Later he brought his son to the temple to be presented to God. [5]
After the Magi from the east arrived and presented their gifts, a dream alerted Joseph to escape to Egypt, since Herod posed a threat to Jesus. Joseph obeyed and escaped by night with the Child and His mother. [6]
Joseph loved and supported his family. The last we hear of him was when Jesus was twelve years old and was taken to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. [7]
Looking at Joseph’s life, three aspects of love emerge worth imitating:
- Unoffendable Love
- Selfless Love
- Protective Love
Unoffendable Love
Betrayal or rejection of our love is one of the most difficult heartbreaks we face. From firsthand experience, this sadness has the potential to spin our lives out of orbit and shake our foundation.
I can only imagine how Joseph must have felt when Mary showed up pregnant after visiting her cousin Elizabeth. What deep betrayal he must have felt! Yet, he responded with love. Joseph could have accused Mary, which might have led to her being stoned. Instead, he planned to end the relationship quietly, not putting her to shame.
Loving as Joseph did requires an awareness of a greater, eternal love which doesn’t fade no matter how people treat us.
We don’t know exactly how long before Joseph heard the truth from the angel. In the meantime, I feel sure Joseph cried out to his Comforter to draw near to soothe his aching heart. Our Father is the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions. [8]
Selfless Love
Selfless love is loving others despite what it costs us. It’s what Joseph did when he showed grace to Mary. He would continue from there, sacrificially caring for his family for as long as he lived.
Selfless love is what Jesus showed us on the cross. It’s how husbands are to love their wives: sacrificially, considering them and loving them before their own needs.
Selfless love also extends beyond marriage. Paul urges all believers to “regard one another as more important than himself.” [9] He tells us to be like Jesus, who “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant.” [10]
Protective Love
Joseph had demanding responsibilities to protect his unique family against rising harm. Like a night watchman, constantly surveying the horizon for threats, Joseph was alert to protecting his vulnerable family.
He found a place for the baby to lie when the inn was full. He led his family in their night escape to Egypt. From there he took them to Nazareth because threats remained.
Loving protectively requires courage. It takes a willingness to do whatever it takes for the safety and well-being of others.
Jesus loved us this way by willingly giving up His life to protect us from eternal separation from God. And He wants us to love others with the same love: This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you (John 15:12 )
Prayer
Lord, as I look at Joseph’s life, I want to love like him. But I’m weak. I know I can only love others in these ways by depending on Your Holy Spirit within me. As the branch abides in the vine, please help me abide in You.
I only love because You love me. Please destroy any lies or speculations which block me from fully knowing and walking in Your love.
Please show me how to love the people You place in my path. May the words from my mouth be Your words. May I serve in Your strength. May You always be glorified in my life. [11]
Amen.
Reflections
To accomplish these qualities of love, which prioritizes others’ needs above our own, we must rely on the Holy Spirit. To love this way requires walking in newness of life and continually putting off our old ways of thinking and living. To love as Joseph loved we must abide in complete reliance upon the Holy Spirit,
As we look at Joseph’s life, what aspect of how he loved stands out?
Did someone break your heart? Call out to the Comforter to draw near and soothe your deep pain. Will we respond to the offender like Joseph did?
Do we always fight for what we want? May we try laying aside our desires and seeking the interests of others first.
Are we aware of the dangers in the lives of those we love? Are we ready to protect them? Our enemy, the devil, is a roaring lion, ever seeking to destroy. [12] Let’s continually present those around us to our loving Shepherd, the true Protector of the sheep.
Please consider leaving a comment. Thank You.
[1] Matthew 1:19
[2] Matthew 1:20-24
[3] Matthew 1:25
[4] Luke 2:1-7
[5] Luke 2:21-24
[6] Matthew 2:13-14
[7] Luke 2:41-52
[8] II Corinthians 1:3-5
[9] Philippians 2:3b
[10] Philippians 2:7b
[11] I Peter 4:11
[12] I Peter 5:8
Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.
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Note: Unless otherwise noted, all referenced Scripture is from the NASB 1995 Version of the Bible.
Other posts in our Everlasting Way Series:
Learning How to Overcome Emotional Numbness
Are we More Like Batman or Spider-Man
Transforming Awareness: The Power of God’s Love
Celebrating with Joy – In Memory of a Friend
Loving without Expecting Anything in Return
Like a Child: The Way Back to Wonder
Nonfiction books by the Author:
This collection of devotionals chronicles a heartfelt journey from a life of striving and self-reliance to one of growing surrender and trust in God.
Through personal stories of family struggles, cancer, grief, and unexpected trials, the devotions show that true, unshakeable joy comes not from perfect circumstances, but from the constant, loving presence of Jesus Christ.
It’s an invitation to learn to let go of our burdens and find growing peace in God’s greater story.
Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn’t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God’s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.
For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It’s not just a good idea, it’s vital to our journey as human beings. Rhythms of Joy
Novels by the Author:
What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for? Beyond Time
By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowingly set off a series of events which uncovers a plot to wipe out a whole family. Hope Remains
Please Check out the Cola City Podcast . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.
