The Forgotten Man at the Manger
The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:20).
Joseph is the one person in the Christmas drama seldom mention and never quoted, yet the entire narrative hinges on his faithfulness. Mary is quoted. As are Elizabeth, Zacharias, the shepherds, the wise men, Herod, Simeon, and even the angels. But there is not record of anything Joseph ever said.
We hear a lot of carols at Christmastime. There are songs about Mary, the wise men, the shepherds, the angels, the star. Everyone has a carol about them, except Joseph. Hardly anyone sings of him at Christmas.
But there is a reason God chose Joseph to mentor and raise His own Son. He was faithful. Each time God sent him a message through an angel, he obeyed immediately (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:13-15; 2:20-22). Our legacy form this forgotten man at the manger is not in what he said but in what he did. The entire story hinges on his obedience to God.
CODE WORD: ORDINARY
Maybe no one takes notes of what you say. Perhaps you have never written a book. Like me, you are just an ordinary person. Learn a lesson form another one of us, Joseph, a common carpenter. God uses ordinary people. He chooses people like you and me to do as He commands.
Lord, help me see today that what I do speaks louder than anything I might say.
The Christmas Code by O.S. Hawkins
Joseph is the one person in the Christmas drama seldom mention and never quoted, yet the entire narrative hinges on his faithfulness. Mary is quoted. As are Elizabeth, Zacharias, the shepherds, the wise men, Herod, Simeon, and even the angels. But there is not record of anything Joseph ever said.
We hear a lot of carols at Christmastime. There are songs about Mary, the wise men, the shepherds, the angels, the star. Everyone has a carol about them, except Joseph. Hardly anyone sings of him at Christmas.
But there is a reason God chose Joseph to mentor and raise His own Son. He was faithful. Each time God sent him a message through an angel, he obeyed immediately (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:13-15; 2:20-22). Our legacy form this forgotten man at the manger is not in what he said but in what he did. The entire story hinges on his obedience to God.
CODE WORD: ORDINARY
Maybe no one takes notes of what you say. Perhaps you have never written a book. Like me, you are just an ordinary person. Learn a lesson form another one of us, Joseph, a common carpenter. God uses ordinary people. He chooses people like you and me to do as He commands.
Lord, help me see today that what I do speaks louder than anything I might say.
The Christmas Code by O.S. Hawkins