Fatherhood Series

Series: There’s an App for That

“Fatherhood”

Matthew 1:18-25

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For many years, Lou Gehrig held the iron-man record of playing in 2,131 consecutive baseball games. Cal Ripken, Jr. broke that record on September 6, 1995. Ripken gave much of the credit for his success and accomplishments to the example of his father, Cal Ripken, Sr. His dad played minor league ball and then coached and managed for the Baltimore Orioles.

During the 1996 season, Ripken, Sr. was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame. After his acceptance speech, his son stepped to the microphone. Here’s how Ripken, Jr. describes the event in his book The Only Way I Know How:

“It was difficult. I wasn’t certain I could say what I wanted about my father and what he means to me. So I told a little story about my two children, Rachel, six at the time, and Ryan, then three. They’d been bickering for weeks, and I explained how one day I heard Rachel taunt Ryan, ‘You’re just trying to be like Daddy.’ After a few moments of indecision, I asked Rachel, ‘What’s wrong with trying to be like Dad?’ When I finished telling the story, I looked at my father and added, ‘That’s what I’ve always tried to do’”

Today is Father’s Day. We honor our dads and pray that God will bless them beyond measure. Maybe Father’s Day is a tough day for you. Maybe your dad has passed on and you miss him dearly. Maybe your dad wasn’t the kind of man who was a blessing to you and the celebration of Father’s Day annoys you.

Whatever the case, most of us has had some kind of father figure that gave us their time and attention. They mentored and guided us. We celebrate them as well. Of course, we all have the heavenly Father who loves us beyond measure. He’s described in Ps. 68:5 as a “father to the fatherless.”

What are some essential qualities for men in our? How do we determine what principles give men the foundation to be who God created them to be?

On Mother’s Day, we learned some lessons about motherhood from Mary, the mother of Jesus. Today we’re going to look at some lessons on fatherhood from Joseph, Mary’s husband. No, he was not the biological father of Jesus but he certainly lived his life in a way that stands as an excellent model for us as men to follow.

Mt. 1:18-25 – This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet 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 conceive and 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 did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Joseph Was a Man of Conviction

He was driven by his integrity. This kind of conviction has to do with who you really are and not who you appear to be.

There was a story on the news a few years ago about a lady who appeared to be 8-9 months pregnant. She worked her way down the aisles of a local supermarket. When she left the store and went to her car, she proceeded to give birth to a pound of butter, a chuck roast, pancake syrup, two tubes of toothpaste and four candy bars.

Her convictions were wrong. Joseph was a man who had decided that he would do things the right way. The right way to Joseph was the way God had said things should be. He was first of all a man who wanted to please God and do what would honor God.

As soon as he heard that Mary was pregnant and knowing that he was not the father of the child, Joseph decided to annul his engagement to her. He expected to have a wife who was faithful to him. He expected his wife to be a righteous follower of God. He could not condone an act of unrighteousness and sin.