The Glory of Christmas-Joseph

Precedents from God

I don’t know about you, but it’s always fun to receive presents at Christmas time. Or anytime for that matter.

But you know what I love about Christmas?

I love the precedents from God. Not the presents, the precedents.

A precedent is sort of a fancy way of saying this is how God works. God repeatedly shows that He loves to work through some of the least qualified people to do the most significant tasks. God loves to surprise us by using unexpected people.

Why do you think God loves working through underwhelming people? I think He does this so that He can receive the glory. He love to work through imperfect, flawed people to do amazing things. Because you know what? People with a lot of flaws really have to depend on God. When they depend on God and God works through them, God receives the glory.

In our story today we see Jospeh chosen to be the earthly father of the Son of God. That sounds confusing. And that sounds like a job that had to be out of the skill set of a normal ancient woodworker which Joseph was.

If you have any doubts about God working unexpectedly through people think through some of the stories of the Old Testament

in Genesis 12-22 God calls Abram to leave his country and follow Him. He was old when God sent him on his mission 100 years old before he became the father of the one God promised Him. God promised that He would bless Abram and make his descendents as “Numerous as the stars in the sky” and yet Abram and Sarah produced no offspring for decades. God, however wasn’t limited by Abram or Sarah’s age....God enjoyed making a situation that seemed impossible work out for His glory.

Later in Genesis 25-35 God uses a man known far more as a chapter and a liar bring greater glory to God. Jacob was known far more for lies and trickery than for being a man of God. God worked through a man you or I would have disqualified and chose to work powerfully through Him.

Think about it, the whole book of Exodus is the story of God using a man with a stuttering problem to be His mouthpiece saving millions from slavery. Exodus is the story of the nation of Israel finding freedom from literally slavery in Egypt. God chose to use Moses in some miraculous ways to free His people from Egypt.

In Joshua 2 God chose to get the glory by working through the life of a woman who lived as a Prostitute. God used a woman from the red light district as part of His plan to move His people into the land He promised to give them.

Let me review that real quick to make sure we don’t miss it.

In order for God to move His amazing plans forward for his people He chose to use someone any one of us would consider under-qualified for the job. He chose someone any one of us might not give the time of day today. But He chose her and worked through Rahab as she said yes to Him. And as she said yes to God, she was woven into the family line of Jesus the messiah.

The New Testament is dominated by Jesus.

The Old Testament everywhere you look you find the story of David. You find His descendents and more.

You know, the Bible calls David “a man after God’s own heart.” And yet he’s also known for adultery, murder, violence and more.

And yet the place where the Son of God is born is called the “City of David” it’s Bethlehem.

It’s through the family of King David that one day a Savior would be born. This baby would be known as “Christ the Lord.” And when God chose to make known the One who would bear the title “King of Kings and “Lord of Lords” God sent His Son into the family of a carpenter named Joseph.

The Bible describes this carpenter as a “just man” but make no mistake Joseph was just a man. He was a man with doubts, fears, and more. Before God could work through Joseph in bringing Jesus to the world, first He had to let Joseph know he could do the job.

Let’s read Matthew’s account here:

Matthew 1:18–25 ESV

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

As we look at Jospeh and think about the assignment that God had just given us let’s imagine this man. He had to have had just as many and more moments of doubt that you and I have. I’ve doubted myself hundreds of times over the past 8 years of parenthood. Joseph had even bigger fish to fry.

Maybe he thought:

How can I exist in this kind of relationship?

Will anyone ever believe the story of what happened here?

I didn’t sign up for this kind of marriage?

What will other people think of this story? Of us?

How will the gossip wreck my ability to work as a carpenter?

This doesn’t make sense, how can I be the man God wants me to be if I don’t understand what God is doing here?

Why would God do something like this? Why would God choose someone like this?

The reason is God sets precedents throughout the people of using people who will give Him the glory when He works through them. He loves to use people who will give Him great glory when He puts them in a spot to do just that.

We really don’t know if our character was like Joseph or not. But he probably would relate to the comment the director made. Remember what He said.

I understand that Joseph is radically under-qualified for all he’s about to encounter. But isn’t that the type of people God uses? The most unlikely folks to do the biggest things. It seems like those are the ones He always picks because He is a God who will never give up on us.”

Wow! Aren’t those lines so true for us this Christmas? God loves to se people who are radically underqualifed to do amazing things for Him! God wants us to use everything He has on our plate to give Him honor and glory this Christmas.

Maybe you’re afraid about the future...

Maybe you feel inadequate to take care of your family like you think you need to...

Maybe you feel like you’re in a dead end job...

Maybe you feel stretched between taking care of kids and aging parents..

Maybe you feel misunderstood...

Maybe you feel burned unjustly by a social media post...

Maybe you feel in over your head with responsibilities you didn’t plan on...

You are exactly the kind of person God loves to use for His glory this Christmas. You might feel like the most unlikely candidate to do something great for God but don’t give up on God! He wants you to know that He is with you.

He wants you to be like Joseph. Trust Him and not just your circumstances.

He will lead you day by day to give you the strength and courage to be and do what He calls you to.

Christmas is about precendents from God. He regularly uses people who are in less than ideal circumstances to do amazing things for Him.

Think about it, you are uniquely positioned to make a difference for God right where you are this Christmas. The family, friends, and cooworkers you have are unique to you. God wants to work powerfully to you. Will you make yourself available to be used by Him?

Remember what the angel told Joseph?

Matthew 1:20 ESV

20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Think about your life and the responsibilities that you have....

What do you think God wants to encourage you in this week?

How would you fill in the blank this Christmas?

Do not be afraid to ______________________.

What is God asking you to step toward? What does God want you to say “Yes” to? Where does God want you to trust in Him? If you feel underprepared, know you are in good company.

Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, David and certainly Mary’s husband Joseph all can identify with you. God specializes in working through people like that, like you, to receive great glory. It maybe that God is working in a situation quite beyond what you can understand to bring His glory.

will you choose to make yourself available for God to work through? Will you let God get glory outt of working through your life and situation following the precedent of how He has aways worked. God seems to work through unusual people throughout the Bible. Why not be life Joseph and trust God stepping forward into what He wants to do in and through you despite how you may feel.

The Scripture says

Matthew 1:24 ESV

24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,

How will you respond in your life this Christmas?