God With Us: Embracing Jesus During Confusing Times
New Year’s can be a time of great confusion (what should I do this year?).
Psalm 71:1
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Never put to confusion? What is that about?
It is a promise from God, but it doesn’t seem realistic, does it?
See if you feel the confusion in these verses.
Matthew 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.
Circumstances have a way of making us feel that God isn’t with us.
For Joseph, his wife was found to be with child before consummation. Usually one year of engagement before the marriage ceremony. Engagement was more binding than it is today; Joseph needed a divorce to end the engagement.
Mosaic Law provided that unfaithful woman could be stoned though this was not common in NT times, so Joseph contemplated a quiet divorce.
Joseph’s parents may have chosen Mary. I wonder what they thought at this point. Very confusing situation.
Joseph did what the angel commanded (took her home) though the child was not his. He and Mary prepared for the child. Was no physical union until after Jesus was born (again a common practice of that day).
The little child that Joseph embraced during this time of confusion was not his child, but he embraced him nonetheless.
Circumstances have a way of making us feel that God isn’t with us. During these times, we have a choice to make: either we embrace Jesus or we don’t. There is no middle ground.
Just as Joseph embraced Christ, so must you and I.
Through Jesus, God is with us in the midst of confusing circumstances.
God spoke to Joseph through an angel. Can you imagine how much more confused Joseph would have been had God not spoken to him?
Imagine going through this coming year without God speaking to you or leading you. What would that be like?
John 1 (Word: the Logos). Think about the use of logos in today’s society to distinguish companies one from the other. Jesus was God’s logo or image for us to know who He (God) is.
God speaks; Are you listening for God’s voice?
What if Joseph refused to listen to the angel?
Do we ever refuse to listen to God when He speaks to us?
*You embrace Jesus in the confusing times by listening for His voice.
My sheep hear my voice and they know me
Jacob: grandson of Abraham, second born in family, promised a blessing from God, took matters into his own hands (stole the blessing), ran from home.
Perhaps one of the darkest hours
Jacob: “The Lord was in this place and I knew it not.” The house of God. Ever wonder where God lives?
For Jacob God lived in his toughest moment
Greatest example of “God with us” I can think of
Back to our original story
Perhaps God spoke to Joseph because He didn’t want to leave Joseph out. Joseph could have easily walked away from Mary and missed out on being part of Jesus’ life. He might have missed out entirely on the Messiah.
When God spoke to Joseph, God spoke away the fear.
During confusing times, there is always seems to be some fear.
Fear of missing God’s will.
Fear of finding God’s will.
Fear of the unknown.
God speaks away the fear; Are you receiving God’s promise?
God hath not given us a spirit of fear.
God is not the author of confusion.
Though He is not the author, confusing times can help you.
Back to story of Jacob
God spoke: “I am with you where ever you go. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised.”
This was the same promise for Joseph. Scripture says that it “Took place to fulfill what the Lord had said.”
*You embrace God in the confusing times by receiving His promise.
God’s plan for Joseph: to be the earthly father of Jesus
God’s plan for Jacob: to carry on the line and receive the promise of Abraham
God gave each of these men a place in His story.
What is God’s plan for you this year? Where is it that God’s story will intersect with yours?
God speaks away the fear so that we can focus on His larger agenda.
Joseph focused on the needs of his wife and new child, rather than his own needs.
Didn’t divorce her; took her home as his wife but didn’t become intimate with her.
Three are times when even good things must be set aside for the best. Joseph set aside the physical union with his wife for something much larger and better.
There are many good things that you can be involved in this year, but none as important as God’s kingdom, His larger agenda.
As the years unfolded, Joseph probably began to understand more and more of God’s larger agenda.
As this year unfolds, you will begin to understand more of God’s larger agenda for you and yours.
*You embrace Jesus in confusing times by focusing on His larger agenda.
GOD WITH US
Notice it didn’t say, God with me
God was with Joseph, but he was also with Mary, all of Israel, and the world.
God so loved . . . the world (that’s how big God’s agenda is).
Are you focused on God’s larger agenda?
Let’s go back to the story I started with
Psalm 71:1
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Confusing times are going to come. The question is what you do with them. Or better yet, what you allow Jesus to do with them. He knows about confusing times: i.e. garden of Gethsemane. Out of the confusion came purpose: “not what I will, but what You will.”
Out of Joseph’s confusion came purpose.
Out of Jacob’s confusion came purpose.
I promise that out of your confusion can come purpose if you put your trust in the Lord. During times of confusion, God doesn’t sit back idly watching, He is with you in those moments. How do I know? He is Immanuel: God with you, God with me, God with us.
Are you listening for God’s voice?
God speaks away the fear; Are you receiving God’s promise?
Are you focused on God’s larger agenda?
Perhaps you have never heard that God could be with you the way I described it today. Perhaps you have never heard about embracing Jesus into your life. Today is your day.
God is with you so embrace Jesus today.
Pastor Vinnie Cappetta, PhD.
Crossroads Community Church
Framingham MA
www.crosscommchurch.org
