Not many men would be so kind as to stand by a fiancé who was with child from another, even if it was the Holy Spirit of God. I’m sure Joseph agonized over what to do and scripture even says he came up with a plan to go ahead and marry Mary then quietly divorce her so as not to bring shame upon her. That right there tells me Joseph truly loved Mary for only a caring person would choose to orchestrate a plan to take away the worst of the pain and societal rejection instead of saving face and walking away.
After Joseph had considered and devised his brilliant plan an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit…..” Matthew 1:20 The angel told him so much more, even giving instructions as to the name to be given, and when Joseph awoke he did what the angel of the Lord said to do. He followed through. He kept his word.
Like Mary, who chose to follow the call on her life, Joseph decided to as well. He made a conscious choice to follow through based on a direct communication from God through an angel in a dream. Joseph pushed his pride, ego, and self out of the way to make room for God’s word, God’s truth, God’s will. That’s right! Joseph decided to put God first.
Maybe we all could start this Christmas fresh and new from the perspective of Joseph’s dream. We all agonize over different things in life and try to wiggle our way around the briars to safely make it through unscathed. That rarely happens, though, for life is filled with traps, and tangles, and uncertainties. But one thing is for certain. When you are open to hearing from Divine in different ways, you will hear clear instructions.
Like a babe in a manger who was sent to save the world, Holy came swaddled in love. This is the season to remember how to love one another.