Matthew 12:46-50 Jesus' Mother and Brothers

One of the richest metaphors for the kingdom of God is that of a family. Our blood family holds a very special place in our hearts without a doubt, but when we decide to become a follower of Jesus, when we decide to do the will of the Father, we become brothers and sisters of one another. Also, we find within the kingdom, people who can be our mothers and fathers in a spiritual sense.

When I decided to follow Jesus, I was fourteen years old. My parents did not begin the journey of following Jesus with me. But I did not lack a family because within the church I found a father, a mother, and many brothers and sisters who nurtured me and kept me accountable. It is important to note that the main identification of the members of this family is obedience to the will of the Father. To follow Jesus is to do the will of the Father becoming a member of the family of God.

Father, help me do your will every day. Thank you for your provision of fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters in your kingdom.

Matthew 1:18-25 The Birth of Jesus Christ

The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is the coming of our God in the flesh to the earth - God with us. He came with a specific purpose: to save us from our sins. The Lord's birth had been prophesied by Isaiah many years (around 700 years) before it happened. A prophecy like that requires human agents to participate to make it true. One of those obedient agents I admire is Joseph. He had to overcome (with God's help) a few obstacles to be obedient. 

Marriage in those days was a long process. More likely, it was arranged by the parents. Betrothal was the arrangement to give Mary to Joseph as wife and it was as binding as a wedding without them cohabiting. Betrothal could take many months up to a year before the wedding. The second stage was the wedding itself. It was a celebration that lasted several days at the end of which the bride and groom would cohabit and have sexual union.

Joseph was a just man, unwilling to shame Mary, but he resolved to divorce her quietly. His intentions were great, but the end result is not what God had planned. Joseph's solution to the situation he perceived as unacceptable (a pregnant wife before the wedding) was hardly the right one. God himself had to intervene through an angel in Joseph's sleep to straighten out his heart and ensure proper action.

How many times have I come up with solutions to my situations that miss out on God's plan and intentions? How many times has God intervened in my life to straighten out my heart before I make a decision final? How many times have I ignored God's guidance and did my own thing anyway? How many times my personal desires ruled over my obedience to God? At what cost?

I want to be like Joseph, a man who set aside his own desires to accomplish God's will. By the way, his desire to have a respected wife who would make him look good and satisfy his manly desires on wedding night is not ungodly at all. But his desire to do the will of God was greater. 

Lord, thank you for coming into the world to save me from my sins. Continue to intervene in my life when my solutions don't measure up to your expectations. Give me the sensitivity to perceive your guidance and the desire to obey it at all times.