Joseph: Strength of Faith

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

Read Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph, a strong man, in an impossible situation.

In him I see the poster-child for: Do not lean on your own understanding.

Faced with a difficult decision --- What to do with a pregnant fiancée? --- he chose the faithful path he always followed.

He knew the child wasn't his. He was a just man who loved his bride-to-be.

Breaking the betrothal, his only option, but he would do it quietly.

He would protect her as best he could, according to the law.

Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly,

so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

Matthew 1:19 NLT

He reasoned it all out, settled the painful ordeal in his mind, and went to bed.

But God had a different plan, one that challenged Joseph's sensibility.

"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. ..."

Matthew 1:20 ESV

Joseph's strength is found in his faith.

By faith, he believed the angel who spoke to him in his dreams.

By faith, he put aside the law, tradition, family, and reputation.

By faith, he chose to obey God... in an impossible situation.

We hear arguments today, still, about the impossibility of a virgin birth.

Science and reason rules our culture.

We've forgotten God when it comes to the impossible... forgotten He is not bound by the same laws of nature we are. He wrote them, He can break them, or use them, anyway He desires.

"... For nothing is impossible with God."

Luke 1:37 NLT

It takes great strength of character to choose God's way over our own reason and understanding.

Joseph did.

And he received the blessing of protecting and ushering into the world its Savior.

What kind of strength do you have when it comes to faith?

Are you willing to set aside all you know and trust in, to trust Him? His Word? His Way?

Consider the strength of your faith this season. Are you missing opportunities to usher Jesus into your world?

The first step toward a strong faith is a commitment to Him, above anything else.

He will provide the strength.

For the eyes of the Lord range through the earth to strengthen

those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

2Chronicles 16:9 NIV84 

Lord, I commit my life and way to You.

Bless me with the strength of faith to trust You

above all earthly reason and understanding.

Amen.

Carol Weaver