A miracle happened on Christmas Day. God stepped into this world.
• Jesus Christ, who is God, was born. He was born with a purpose - to save you and me from our sin and give us the hope of eternal life.
• This great plan of God was fulfilled because two persons were willing to trust and obey God. They were willing to offer their service to God.
Joseph and Mary are willing to place their lives in God’s hand.
• God announced His plan to them through angels, on separate occasions.
• An angel Gabriel was sent to tell Mary God’s plan (in Luke 1:26ff.)
• Another angel was sent to Joseph in his dream (Matt 1:20ff.)
Both were shocking news, out of the ordinary.
• Both of them could have been planning for their wedding, but God stepped in.
• Their wedding plan has been rattled.
• Mary was told that she would have a child, and to name him Jesus.
Neither of them planned for this to happen. Can they trust God in this?
• How are they going to tell their family, relatives and friends?
• We read here in this passage, Joseph has a difficult decision to make. Should he believe Mary’s words, or should he just decide to break off the engagement?
Of course, we know the rest of the story.
• They both believed God and obeyed Him. They placed their lives in His hands, and God used them greatly.
• Not only were they blessed, they become a blessing to the rest of the world.
When God calls us to serve Him, it is always a test of our faith in Him.
I. JOSEPH & MARY BELIEVED GOD’S MESSAGE AND TRUSTED HIM
It takes faith. They need to trust what God said He will do.
God did not ask Joseph and Mary for their opinion to His plan; He just told them.
• The angel did not ask Mary or Joseph whether God’s plan was acceptable to them. God simply announces His plan and His will for their lives.
• When God calls us to serve Him, it is always a test of our faith in Him.
God is omniscient, the wise God who knows all things. We are called to put our trust in Him.
• When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, the people were simply asked to obey. They will be blessed if they do.
• When we read His Word and know the truth, we are asked to believe it and obey what He says.
God need not have to ask us, "What do you think? Is this alright with you?"
• He would not be God if He is not sure what is good and right and true.
• God simply proclaims the truth. He cannot lie. When He speaks, it is always the truth.
• The Lord says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matt 24:35)
God has a plan for your life. You are designed to live under His love and care.
• Jesus comes so that you can know God and be saved from your sin.
• The angel tells Joseph to name the child JESUS, “because he will save His people from their sins.” (Matt 1:21)
• This is the truth. The world is in need of a Saviour and God sent us Jesus.
• Will you believe Him? Are you willing to believe Him?
When God calls us to serve Him, it is always a test of our faith in Him.
II. GOD’S WILL FOR JOSEPH & MARY WAS NOT AN EASY ONE.
Sometimes we think that if we are in God’s will, everything will be a bed of roses; life will be without trouble or difficulty.
• That’s how most people think. God is there to make them happy, rich & successful.
• God is there only for their sake, to fulfil their will, to bless them. They have misunderstood God.
Look at Joseph and Mary.
(1) The child came at about the time they need to travel to Bethlehem to pay tax.
• They had to travel a long distance while Mary was with child.
• And at this time of the year, it will be difficult to find a room in Bethlehem.
• Why didn’t God arrange in such a way so that the child comes before they need to travel, or after that?
(2) The baby had to be born in a manger because there was no room in the Inn.
• We can imagine the young couple’s frustration – having travelled so far, pregnant with child, exhausted and ready to deliver, and they cannot even find a decent place to rest.
• Why didn’t God provide a 5-star hotel room for them? Why didn’t God make life easy for Joseph and Mary, since they are obeying His will?
(3) And then after Jesus’ birth, they were forced to flee to Egypt because of the threat of King Herod.
• The moment Jesus was born, he became a refugee. The family have to flee to a foreign land. There were so many inconveniences.
• Why didn’t God stop King Herod? Why didn’t God soften the King’s heart so they would not have to flee at all?
We misunderstand God when we believe that His only concern is to make life easy for us, that God’s will is only to make us happy and rich and successful.
• If we think that the easy way is always God’s way, we are wrong.
Someone wrote this poem:
God has not promised - Skies always blue
Flower-strewn pathways - All our lives through.
God has not promised - Sun without rain
Joy without sorrow - Peace without pain.
But God did promise - Strength for the day
Rest for the labour - Light for the way.
Grace for the trials - Help from above
Unfailing sympathy - Undying love.
God works out His will even through trials and difficulties.
• Jesus says many likes to take the broad and easy road but it leads to destruction. The small and narrow way leads to life, but few takes it.
• Jesus chose a path that led to the cross. Paul chose a path that led to persecution and imprisonment.
• But both chose paths that were in the plan of God for them! And their lives and works have now impacted millions of people over many generations, for over thousands of years now.
God does not promise us an easy trip, but He promises to be with us as we take it!
• He promises to guide us at every step of the way, just as He did for Joseph and Mary, and for the Magi.
• He promises to give us the strength we need to finish the tasks we need to do.
Finally,
III. THOUGH THINGS WERE DIFFICULT, GOD BLESSED JOSEPH & MARY.
They participated in one of God’s greatest works, and brought blessings to mankind.
• The Lord watches over them. He was with them, to guide them and help them.
• The angels spoke to them in their dreams, and protected them from Herod’s threat.
They were blessed with a unique experience, to see the child grow up before their eyes.
• The Gospel writer Luke described the child a few times in Luke 2.
• Luke 2:33 "The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him." (after hearing how prophet Simeon responded)
• Luke 2:40 "And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him."
• Luke 2:52 "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men."
Not only were Joseph and Mary personally blessed, their obedience to God has resulted in God’s blessing to the rest of the world.
God’s plan for our lives isn’t always an easy one, but it will bring us His blessings.
• And many more others will be blessed because of our obedience to God. Our testimony will become a source of encouragement and strength to those around.
Conclusion:
When God calls us to serve Him, it is always a test of our faith in Him.
• The path He has called us to take may not be easy, or one that we like, but it will always be a blessed way.
In 1967, a diving accident left Joni paralysed from the neck down. She has had no feeling or movement in her arms or legs. She uses her mouth to paint and write.
God used her greatly. She has been a great witness for God and an encouragement to many. She has written many books, the first one was her autobiography ‘Joni’. She has visited 35 countries sharing the Gospel. A movie about her life has been translated into 15 languages.
In fact, it is very likely that God has graciously used Joni far more as a paralysed woman, than if she had never had the accident. God turned her mourning into joy.
She has not chosen to serve God on a wheelchair, but God blessed her, and used her to bless many others.
The great blind hymn-writer Fanny Crosby wrote over 8000 hymns. The doctor made a mistake while she was just 6 weeks old, and resulted in her blindness. But she came to put her trust in Christ and wrote the hymns we still sing: I Am Thine, O Lord; Jesus Is Tenderly Calling; To God Be the Glory; Blessed Assurance.
She has not chosen to live in total darkness, but her condition made her more sensitive to things around and that enabled her to write many beautiful hymns.
She has not chosen to serve God with blindness, but God blessed her, and used her to bless many others.
God is not the author of evil or sickness. We live in a fallen world where these things happen. But God can take them and use them for His glory.
God’s plan will always leads to His blessings.
• Put your trust in His Word and obey Him today, just as Joseph and Mary did.
• The journey may not be easy, but God is with us to guide us and give us the strength we need.
• Our obedience will not only bring us blessings, many others will be blessed because of us.
Dear friends, Christmas tells us God is someone who cares about us. He is Someone we can fully trust.
• God loves you. Jesus has already come. He came to pay your sin’s penalty.
• He died in your place on the cross. So put your trust in Him today and you will be saved.
• Receive God’s gift of a Saviour. Accept Him as your Saviour and Lord.
