A Godly Father

FATHER’S DAY 2023

Text: Matthew 1:19-25

Good Morning, and Happy Father’s Day!

Before we begin, and go to our text this morning, I just want to do a whirlwind trip through the Book of James… Bear with me and you’ll see why in just a moment…

In James chapter 1, James talks about how we are to remain steadfast in trials, and how we are to count it all joy when we are tested, because testing brings us to maturity in the faith, and he talks about how we are to not only be hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word. In chapter two he talks about how we are not to show favoritism or commit the sin of partiality… we are to love our neighbors and thereby show that we love God… and then he explains how faith without works is dead. In chapter 3 he talks about taming the tongue and how we are to not speak foolishly or be a clown, how we are to not boast, or slander, or lie, and how we are to avoid jealousy and selfish ambition. In chapter 4, James warns us against worldliness, and says that friendship with the world makes us an enemy of God. And then finally in chapter 5, he warns us against chasing after wealth, he warns against false teachers and again encourages us to be patient in suffering.

Now why did we just do that? Well maybe it would be helpful if we remembered who James’ father was… First; remember… the writer of this epistle was not James – the brother of John. That James’ father was named Zebedee… This was a different James, and his father was a guy named Joseph. He was married to a gal named Mary, and James’ older brother was Jesus (½ bro)

So let me ask you – do you think James ever saw his dad Joseph remain steadfast during trials?

Do you think he ever saw his dad count it all joy when he was tested and do you think he saw his dad’s faith mature over time?

Do you think James ever saw his dad work hard to not show favoritism and partiality?

Do you think Joseph was ever able to display his faith through his works?

Do think that James maybe saw his dad tame his tongue a few times? Or avoid worldliness, or be patient in suffering and watchful over his family – making sure they were hearing the Word of God, and not some false teaching?

So we’re going to look at Joseph this morning, and all you fathers, would-be father’s, and grandfathers, I want you listening, because I think we can all learn a lot from his example.

Let’s open our Bibles to Matthew 1:19-25 (READ).

Now we are familiar with this story – we hear it ever Christmas. Joseph and Mary are betrothed. They’re going to be married, but then suddenly Mary is pregnant, and Joseph knows good and well that it isn’t his, but verse 19 tells us that Joseph is a “JUST” man. He’s upright. He’s fair. He’s honest. He’s decent. He’s a “JUST” man.

Now think about this for a second. Joseph has worked hard to get everything ready to provide for his new bride. He’s got a job, he works hard, he’s already probably paid a dowery. He loves Mary, but then he finds out she’s pregnant. And so he has some options. He could’ve publicly shamed her. He could turn her over to the authorities and they would have stoned her to death. And then to hear her tell it, it – had Joseph turned her over to the authorities they wouldn’t have only stoned her on for being pregnant before marriage, but also they probably would have charged her with blasphemy. But Joseph is a “JUST” man, and he doesn’t want to do that… he loves her, even if she didn’t love him… And so he’s just going to put her away quietly. And this is before any angel speaks to Joseph. All he knows is what he sees and Joseph chooses mercy.

So guys, this is the first thing I want you to see here.

The key to being a good father is to be a good man.

And the only way to be truly good is to be born again. The only way to be truly righteous, is to have the righteousness of God imparted to us through Christ.

Every single one of us here today knows someone who is a “good guy”… we all know “good folks”… people who would give you the shirt off their back. People who work hard every day and will open their homes to you, and help you out of a jam… and at the same time, we probably also know some of those “good folks” who have broken marriages, and broken homes, and who struggle with addiction or all kinds of issues. There is sin in this world and just being a “good guy” doesn’t insulate you from that. Just being a “good guy” doesn’t mean you aren’t enslaved by sin, or your sin nature. Those chains have to be broken by Jesus!