Joseph

I was reading Matthew 1 yesterday and today, and I got to thinking. Joseph is only mentioned a couple of times in the bible. Really, of the two parents, we think of Mary. How she humbly accepted that she would have God's son and was receptive of God's will.

But consider Joseph's story. All of four paragraphs in Matthew 1. He is basically engaged to Mary. And when he finds out she's pregnant, he doesn't want to humiliate her, but it would be disgraceful to marry a woman who had already slept with a man. So out of respect for her, he planned to separate from her quietly.

But God had other plans. And he came to Joseph through an angel and said, "Hey. It's ok, Mary didn't do what you think she did. I made this happen, through my spirit. So stay with her. She will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He's going to save everyone from their sins."

Joseph didn't argue. He didn't even ask the obvious question...How the heck does a woman get pregnant without sleeping with someone? He takes God at his word. And when he woke up, he did what God commanded. No stalling, no complaining. He just did it.

Joseph went counter-cultural by marrying a woman who was pregnant with a kid that wasn't his. He raised a kid that wasn't really his. And he did it on faith.

I thought it was odd that I'd never really heard people talk about how amazing a thing that was for Joseph to do. Joseph had a defining moment in his faith that determined the rest of his life.

But then I realized that Joseph's story kind of speaks to the every day person. Someone who really is just trying to please God. And they may have a great, defining moment or two. But in general, they may not be noticed. Their life probably won't be used in books like Jesus Freaks. They probably won't be a martyr. But by doing God's will in your everyday life: by being a good dad, by honoring your wife, by doing your job to the best of your ability, by trusting God, you honor God and fulfill part of God's purpose for your life.

You don't have to have a big story to have a big faith.