Joseph was committed, or should have been.
This girl-to-be-wife was pregnant. He planned to put her aside quietly, shield her from public disgrace.
Angels appeared in dreams. God's plans were spoken. Joseph heard a name and a plan which means "God with us."
Joseph committed. The world moved past Joseph. We only hear about him at this time of the year. Mary, we see her along the way. Joseph plays his bit part and pretty much disappears...only a couple of times as "parent" do we glimpse the furrowed brow and the responsibility of fatherhood.
Joseph heard a name and a plan...God with us.
Our commitment may be much the same. We may be named once or twice, referred to in passing, but God's plan may play out around us while we think we are not doing much.
I'm sure God could have made things work if Joseph had dismissed the dream as Ebenezer Scrooge tried to dismiss Marley. But commitment carried it forward.
The Isaiah text sings, "Arise, shine; for your light has come...Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (60:1,3)
Light those candles tonight in commitment to playing your part.
God's got the rest...
No comments:
Post a Comment