We are in a series at Grace Point called Xmas. We are looking at different characters connected to the Christmas story and then examining what it means to live a life that is centered on Christ. As Jesus followers, we tend to get irritated when we feel Christ is being left out of Christmas when in reality many people who call themselves Christians are living a life that basically leaves out Christ. It is my belief that you could “remove” Jesus from the average Christian’s life and very little would change.
This Sunday we are looking at Joseph. Although Joseph is one of the more prominent names in the Christmas story, he is more like an extra in a movie. He never speaks a word and he is rarely heard from. He has no lines in the Christmas play. And to be honest, Joey is put in a very difficult situation at the beginning of the story. Joseph is asked to believe the impossible and do the impossible.
He is asked to believe that his suddenly impregnated fiance is still a virgin and the child inside of her is a result of God’s direct intervention. What he is asked to believe defies logic. It does not make sense. It generates skepticism, gossip, shock, and frustration. And yet in faith he believes the impossible.
He is also asked to do the impossible – be a foster father to God the Son turned human who, by the way, is the long-anticipated Messiah who will grow up and die for the sins of humankind. I have trouble trying to get my three kids to where they are supposed to be on time! No pressure Joseph but God’s people have been waiting for the Messiah for thousands of years. His role was determined before the foundation of the world. And guess what? You get to be his foster father!
Joseph had every reason to run in fear (and he was afraid according to the angel) but instead he transformed his fear into faith. Joseph was a man of few words but he was a man of action. He was a man of faith.
Are we living a life of faith? Are we believing or doing anything that requires God to act? I am afraid our tendency is to live a life that requires little or no faith. What is it that God is asking you to do that can only happen if He comes through? If Jesus were taken out of our lives, would it really affect the “faith factor” in any way or would we just continue to live life as is?