An earlier post (See: Learning from Joseph at Christmas) shared two qualities of Joseph that we can emulate: He was righteous and he had great faith. I have found a three more that we can learn to copy.
JOSEPH WAS A MAN OF GREAT SELF-CONTROL
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)
Out of his great respect for the miracle surrounding Mary’s conception, Joseph had no marital relationship with her until after Jesus was born. We can see why God chose Joseph to head the family in which His only begotten Son would be reared. He was a man who could control his actions. He told himself ‘No’ because God said so.
We live in a world where people seldom tell themselves ‘No.’ ‘If it feels good, do it’ has been a slogan for many people for many years. Yet, a person who wants to be a home where Jesus is welcome needs to say ‘No’ to self and ‘Yes’ to God. Especially, in the area of sexual relationship, people yield to temptation.
Paul Harvey tells about an airline stewardess who was being harassed by a slightly inebriated man up in the first class section who was making passes at her & trying to get her to agree to meet him in his hotel suite that night. With some difficulty she got away from him, only to encounter another man at the rear of the plane acting the same way, trying to find out where she was staying, & making suggestive proposals to her about that night. At last, the pilot announced that they were making their final approach for landing. Once again the guy in front offered her a key to his hotel suite & begged her to meet him there. To his obvious delight, she smiled at him & accepted his key, placing it securely in the pocket of her apron. Then she worked her way back towards the rear of the plane. When she got there she took the key out of her pocket & with a big smile handed it to the other guy & said, “Now don’t be late.”
JOSEPH WAS A MAN OF HUMBLE OCCUPATION
And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? (Matthew 13:54-55)
We do not know how long Joseph lived his role as Jesus’ earthly father – he is last mentioned when Jesus was 12 years old. But we do know that Joseph was a carpenter and trained his son in the same trade. He picked up tools and made things. Growing up Jesus learned a craft and worked just like the others in his community. Jesus could have grown up with another step-dad, such as a physician, priest, scholar, soldier, fisherman or shepherd or even an earthly king. But, why a carpenter? Carpenters make things of utility and value. The carpenter does the work and the object in his hand yields to his design. Carpenters have a plan. They work hard to take what is common and make it special. Carpenters are builders and this is what God the Father wants us to understand about his Son—Jesus Christ is a builder. As the chosen earthly father of His Son, God dignified the person who has a humble, ordinary occupation. The hard worker. Others may not respect what you do. But God honors you.
JOSEPH WAS A MAN WHO WORSHIPPED GOD
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. (Luke 2:41)
In spite of unfavorable circumstances, a meager income (as indicated by the offering at the time of Jesus’ circumcision), a large family to support (Matthew 13:55-56) and the travel required, Joseph and his wife attended the Feast of the Passover in Jerusalem every year. To him, the worship of God where God desired to be worshiped was a priority.
Our day is equally difficult to carve time to worship God. But it is the kind of home where Jesus is welcome that makes worship a priority. Though inconvenient and, at times, difficult, the benefit of worship is always great. When you love Jesus, you want to be at a place that worships Him.
A Sunday School was putting on a Christmas pageant which included the story of Mary and Joseph coming to the inn. One boy wanted so very much to be Joseph because he loved Jesus so much. But when the parts were handed out, he was assigned to be the inn-keeper instead. He was pretty upset about this but he didn’t say anything to the director. Finally, the night of the performance, Mary and Joseph came walking across the stage. They knocked on the door of the inn, and the inn-keeper opened the door and asked them gruffly what they wanted. Joseph answered, “We’d like to have a room for the night.” Suddenly the inn-keeper threw the door open wide and said, “Great, come on in and I’ll give you the best room in the house!” He loved Jesus so much he could not let him sleep in the cold.
May we always be a person that welcomes Jesus, especially at Christmas. May we be like Joseph, chosen to be the earthly father of Jesus.
Would God choose you to help raise His Son?
What example would you set for Jesus to follow? Remember, that is the same example you are setting before other children in your life.
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