Courage to follow

Mary’s example of faithful obedience is rightly celebrated but I’ve been looking again at the Christmas story through the eyes of Joseph.

His fiancée’s pregnancy must have come as an awful shock and he clearly didn’t believe Mary’s story at first. In Mt.1.19 we read that `Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly ...’ (GNB). Since betrothal was tantamount to marriage, infidelity might be punishable by stoning – so you can understand why!

Wrestling with the dilemma, Joseph receives a hopeful yet disturbing message in a dream and takes Mary to be his wife. In doing this he knew people would assume he had been unable to wait for marriage and was the father of her child (Mt. 13.55). Joseph took on the gossips and put God, Mary and Jesus first. He also anticipated the cross on which all our sin and shame was carried by Christ.

May the Lord give us courage to follow where He leads - whatever other people may think!

With love and prayers from the Association Team this Christmas and New Year.

Rev'd Keith Judson, Regional Minister and Team Leader