From the DOM
Matthew 1:18
The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.
We don’t know much about Joseph, the husband of Mary. We know he was a carpenter. He wasn’t wealthy. He wasn’t influential in the community. He did not seem to be a man of consequence. But he was chosen by God to be the earthly father of Jesus. There are a few other things we can infer about him.
He loved the Word of God. Matthew tells us he was a righteous man. You cannot be righteous unless you love God’s Word. Pastors, first of all we must love God’s Word. We preach from it and teach from it certainly. All of our interaction with it must be based in a love for it. Because we love it, we value it and take great care in how we exegete and share it with others.
He exhibited Mercy directed by Righteousness. This is a delicate balance. Joseph thought that Mary must have committed adultery (how else could she be with child) but he did not want to embarrass her while still holding truth and integrity in high regard.
Mercy without Righteousness is not willing to stand for anything. It frustrates others when they don’t know where we stand. Pastors must not allow themselves to be manipulated away from truth by those who exalt mercy over righteousness.
Righteousness without Mercy takes a harsh stand that alienates more than it communicates. It justifies angry outbursts as a protection of righteousness. Pastors must be careful to speak the truth in love, not in a way that humiliates others in the name of righteousness.
Joseph loved Mary. Look at how he treated her BEFORE he knew the whole story. He didn’t want to embarrass her and he was slow to wrath. Look at how he treated her AFTER he knew the whole story. He was willing to take heat from his family and his community. Pastors, we must love our congregations in the same way. Be patient with them. Don’t embarrass anyone. Stand with them when they walk out on the limb of faith. Support them as they follow the Lord.
Joseph loved God. When you are certain that God is leading you there is an ease of obedience that settles in your soul. Joseph heard from the Lord and quickly followed in spite of all the challenges before him. Pastors, be encouraged. Follow the Lord when He leads. Go without hesitation. Go in spite of the difficulties. Go with ease, knowing the Lord will never lead you somewhere He hasn’t already gone before you.
Luke 2:1
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered.
We know this verse from the beginning of the story of the birth of Jesus. Confirming all that goes before and after it, this verse fits right into the truth that nothing was normal was Jesus. Not the announcement, not the childhood, not the life, not the ministry, and not the death.
So it should serve as no surprise to us that His birth didn’t go as expected. Certainly Mary and Joseph hoped that Jesus would be born at home, surrounded by family, with lots of resources at their disposal. Instead they had to travel far away from home, to a place where they had no family and had no support system. They travelled when they didn’t want to travel, to a place they didn’t want to go.
No one could make space for them – they were unwelcome. They ended up in a cave, with a feeding trough for a baby bed. In spite of all of Joseph’s efforts, the place of Jesus’ birth was unsanitary, unhealthy.
With all the hardship, with all the challenge, and with all the upheaval, this did not mean that God was not at work. Of course we know well God was at work carrying out His perfect plan, fulfilling prophecy, bringing salvation to the world.
Beware the trap of easy faith that tells you to equate difficult days with being out of step with God. There are too many examples in scripture of men and women listening to the Lord and walking into challenge and upheaval of life. Just because it isn’t what we thought it would be doesn’t mean God is not at work.
This week marks the end of my first year as the DOM here in Unity Baptist Association. What a fast year it has been! I’m so thankful today for the privilege of ministering alongside so many faithful servants. My life has been enriched by the friendships that have begun in the past 12 months. I eagerly anticipate the next year as we begin to implement the strategy the Lord has put before us. Let’s walk confidently into the future, certain that we are going to bring glory to the name of the Lord.
Thanks for your partnership in the gospel.
God bless,
Steve Brazzel
sbrazzel@unityba.org