Devotion: Joseph
Joseph
Please take the time to read Matthew 1:18-25.
I often dread going to “work-the-room” events. And this was before 2020. I have to give myself a motivational pep talk to move me to go. I know why I struggle. It takes so much energy to up my small-talk game.
Inevitably I’ll muster up the energy to go. And I’m always thankful that I did. I’ll have an unexpected encounter with an old friend or meet someone new. I generally feel energized about seeing these people (and exhausted from the small talk). Maybe it’s because I get to focus on someone else rather than myself for a while.
I’m sure I could produce a more meaningful example in my life to demonstrate the lesson for today. But on those bigger decisions, sometimes the reason for making a significant decision takes some time to realize and I wanted to get to the point.
I do know that even my greatest decision hasn’t rivaled Joseph being asked to be the father of Jesus.
In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Michelle shared with us that God breaks in on ordinary days and calls us to take a step forward to follow and trust him. The result may be radically different but you will find joy.
In this season of great joy, that first Christmas Joseph was confronted with a great decision to stay and support Mary through the birth of Jesus. But God breaks in and says, “do not be afraid.”
Trust the process.
Joseph doesn’t even get much hype around the Christmas story. He takes a back seat to Mary and Jesus, and for that matter the shepherds and wise men. Joseph focuses on supporting Mary and the baby so we can all find joy even today.
What a great Christmas message we can all endeavor to follow. Let’s put the focus on others in hopes of finding our own joy this holiday season.
Dear God,
Help me to have faith when You ask me to take a path that is radically different than I expected. In this Advent and Christmas season and the coming year, let me find joy in putting the focus on others so that I may be closer to you. Amen.
Written by Randy Hawthorne
Having a rivaled human network, Randy makes it his personal mission to connect those humans to their next big thing. Randy has decades of experience in the nonprofit industry, having served as a professional and volunteer in a variety of organizations.
He enjoys mentoring students and entrepreneurs, occasionally makes his way to a theater stage, geeks out on local history and goes on dining adventures.