Josh Prather

December 24, 2023

The Humility of Joseph

A look into the defining moments of Joseph

An Unsuspecting Servant

For several years, I had written Advent devotionals. I’ve looked at some of the more obscure characters of the Christmas story, prophetic material, various themes, and even the leading players who were directly involved the night the Savior was born into this world. But one character still stands out to me, and I do not think it was until this year that I began to comprehend the amazing reality of what Joseph must have experienced.

Here was a man who faced incredible social pressure and yet chose to obey God. He was a man of great character and humility. It would do us well to take a moment and reflect on who this man was and what difference it might make for us.

A Choice to Be Made

When Joseph comes onto the scene, we see he has been betrothed (engaged) to Mary. The betrothal process was a solemn ceremony held between the two families of the bride and groom. The groom made a payment, and a contract was drawn up in the presence of a priest and other witnesses. At this point, the couple was contractually committed to one another, and the consummation of the marriage would occur up to a year after the betrothal ceremony. Any action to separate or unfaithfulness would breach the contract and lead to the couple’s divorce.

It is clear from Scripture (Mt. 1:18; Lk. 1:34) that Mary was still a virgin at the point that she conceived through the work of the Holy Spirit. Joseph discovers that Mary is pregnant and is ready to divorce her since Mary had broken the betrothal contract from what he understood to be unfaithfulness on the part of Mary. Then an angel appears to Joseph who shares with him that the child growing in the womb of Mary was the Christ-child conceived in her by the Holy Spirit.

This moment would be one of the hardest for Joseph. He was left with a choice. Every outside sign pointed to the fact that Mary had disgraced herself, her family, Joseph, and his family. Joseph had already decided to divorce Mary quietly to save her from the additional shame that would inevitably be brought upon her and even save her from potential death. But now, Joseph was left with a choice. He was asked to embrace Mary as his wife and become the father of this child. By so doing, he would embrace the potential shame that would follow him for the rest of his life.

A Man of Character

Joseph chooses to embrace the path that God had laid before him. He would stay committed to Mary rather than leave her to be a teenage widow with a fatherless child. Joseph didn’t hesitate in his obedience to the news he received (Mt. 1:24). This response from Joseph is a reflection of the kind of faith Joseph had in God. Joseph was a man of faith, trusting God’s leading, even when he did not see the end of the story.

Throughout Jesus’ childhood, Joseph continued to demonstrate his humility. He worked as a carpenter, a humble trade, to provide for his family. He did not seek recognition or fame but worked hard to support his wife and son.

When Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord, they could only afford to offer the sacrifice required of poor families – two pigeons or doves. This was a humble offering, but it did not diminish the event’s significance. Joseph and Mary recognized the importance of dedicating their son to God, and they did so with humility and reverence.

When Jesus began his public ministry, Joseph was not mentioned again in the Bible. It’s possible that he died before Jesus’ ministry began, but regardless of the details, Joseph’s legacy of humility lives on. He was a man who put aside his own desires and plans to follow God’s will and who worked hard to provide for his family without seeking recognition or fame.

A Lesson for Today

As we reflect on the life of Joseph, we can learn from his example of humility. We can choose to put aside our own desires and plans and submit to God’s will, even when it’s difficult or goes against our own interests. We can work hard and serve others without seeking recognition or fame. And we can recognize the importance of dedicating our lives to God, even if our offerings seem small or humble in the eyes of the world.

The humility of Joseph is a powerful example for us to follow. By putting aside our own desires and submitting to God’s will, by working hard and serving others without seeking recognition or fame, and by dedicating our lives to God, we can live a life of humility and service, just as Joseph did.

Merry Christmas!

I’d love to hear from you! Comment below or message me.

Thanks for reading!

December 1, 2023

Living Selflessly in a Me-Focused World

In today’s society, personal autonomy is at the core of what it means to live out the human experience. Becoming self-centered and focused on our needs and desires is easy. However, as Christians, we are called to live selflessly and love others as ourselves. In this post, we will explore how to live selflessly in a me-focused world based on truths from the Bible.

Personal autonomy is often celebrated in our culture as the highest ideal, but as Christians, we must remember that our ultimate allegiance is not to ourselves, but to God and His Word.” – Al Mohler

Putting Others First

One of the most important ways to live selflessly is by putting others first. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

This verse reminds us to prioritize the needs and desires of others above our own. This can be done by listening to others, being empathetic, and putting their needs before ours. By doing so, we can reflect the love of Christ and build meaningful relationships with others.

Serving Others

Another way to live selflessly is by serving others. In Mark 10:45, Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus modeled selfless service throughout his life, and we are called to follow his example. This can be done by volunteering in our communities, serving in our churches, and finding ways to help those in need. By serving others, we can reflect Christ’s love and positively impact the world.

Loving Others

Finally, we are called to love others selflessly. In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Love is at the core of our faith, and we are called to love others selflessly, just as Christ loved us. This can be done by showing kindness, forgiveness, and grace to those around us. By loving others, we can reflect the love of Christ and make a lasting impact in the world.

Conclusion

Living out the Gospel is not just about believing in Christ; it’s about actively demonstrating His love to others. One of the primary ways we can do this is by focusing on loving others. When we love others selflessly, we mirror the sacrificial love that Christ has shown us. It means showing kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to those around us, even when it’s difficult. By prioritizing love, we become living testimonies of God’s grace and mercy, drawing others to experience the transformative power of the Gospel in their own lives.

Living selflessly in a me-focused world can be challenging, but Christians need to prioritize the needs and desires of others above our own. By putting others first, serving those in need, and loving others selflessly, we can reflect Christ’s love and point others to the Gospel. Let us strive to live selflessly and love others as ourselves, just as Christ loved us.