Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
We all know the story of Jesus’ birth. Today, let’s concentrate on Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. When Joseph found out Mary was with child, he had decisions to make. In those days, to be betrothed was like already being married just the ceremony had not taken place yet and had not been consummated. It says in Matthew 1:19 that Joseph was a righteous man, a just man. Joseph wanted to do the right thing by Mary. So, he did not make a fuss or make anything dramatic. He was going to go ahead and quietly do the ceremony then divorce her quietly.
But an angel came to Joseph with God’s message. You see, God chose Joseph to be Jesus’ earthly father just as much as He chose Mary to be Jesus’ mother. Joseph was chosen because he was a just man. God knew Joseph would do the right thing and would be a good early father to Jesus. What an honor for Joseph. Can you imagine being chosen to be in that kind of role? And yet, we have many men today who choose to be a father of someone else’s child.
Whether you are a biological father, a step-father, an adoptive father, whatever the “title” may be. Being a father is a special calling. Choose to follow the path God has set before you as a father. If you follow God’s ways and teach them to the young, that is a way to fulfill the calling of being a father that God has set forth for you. God calls all to be just men and choose to be the father that He wants you to be.
Thank you to all the fathers, like Joseph, who take on the role to raise the young in the ways God intends. Let’s all follow Joseph’s footsteps and be the just, the righteous people God wants us to be by following His word.