No matter what

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

NO MATTER WHAT

Matt 1:18-25

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"-which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

NIV

Matthew certainly leaves out the details about the conversation the angel had with Mary and gets right to the situation about Mary being with child while being unwed. She was pledged to Joseph, so being engaged in that culture it would not be appropriate for her to engage in any intimate relationship with anyone, even Joseph. He, being a good man was not inclined to make a public display and thus disgrace her. However, God had a plan and he made sure Joseph knew Mary had not been with a man, but with the Holy Spirit and therefor she was still a virgin. This was a big step of faith for Joseph. He might know the truth, but the rest of the community would not believe what he was told by the angel. We do not know just how much Mary showed in her pregnancy when all this happened. We are told she was found to be with child. It certainly was customary in medieval times for a woman to be inspected, most likely by a midwife to verify her virginity. The reason was rather important as when a man marries, one of his intents is to produce a son, an heir who would inherit all his father’s material goods, and in some cases his position in court, or the community. So it would be rightful that the only way a man could make he was the parent of this son was to marry a virgin, who had been certified as such by the midwife. Thus Mary may have been subjected to this inspection prior to the marriage to Joseph and thus found to be with child. Joseph would know without question this child would not be his own heir. But with God, all things are possible and she was still a virgin, but she was also with child. With the confirmation of the Angel, Joseph kept quiet and married Mary, giving her all the rights she had as his wife. Whether the community was in on his vision or not, she was now legitimate in the community. God has a way of making things the way they should be. He needed Mary and he needed Joseph to go along with his plan. He did not hide his plan from Joseph. He told him this son would save his people from their sins. According to Matthew’s won record of genealogy Joseph was in the line of the house of David. The angel quoted the prophet Isaiah to Joseph.

Isa 7:13-15

13 Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.  

NIV

Certainly Joseph was aware of this statement by the prophet. So he obeys God. What does all that have to do with us? There may be times when we have to do or say something that our culture deems not right. Of course, our culture is being led down the wrong path to start with. But, nevertheless Joseph did not go along with his culture, he defied the norm and did want God desired. We too may have to defy the norm in order to do what God desires of us. Although we may not have had a visitation by an angel to tell us what to do, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. Therefor we should be continually aware of his leading no matter if we have to travel outside the bounds of our cultures norm. That translates into not conforming to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Rom 12:1-2

12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

NIV

Our culture, or community might expect us to behave the same as they do, as the towns people might have expected Joseph to behave. But we walk to the beat of a different drummer, we walk by the Spirit and thus we think and act in accordance with his direction. As Joseph did what the angel of the Lord commanded him to do, we too must do what the Lord commands us to do. No matter what the world says.