God, are you serious?

I've recently been so hungry for God's word. At church today, Pastor Sean Seay taught and talked to us about spritual gifts. The talk and scriptures were inspired by Ephesians 4. While listening and reflecting, I started thinking about how God may have given me spiritual gifts in my heart for learning and teaching. Craving God's wisdom, stories, and heart have led me to Matthew a lot recently. I've started smiling everytime I hear a reference or connection to The Book of Matthew, because I feel like God's just saying to me, "There it is again." I am setting a new goal and challenge today.... I want to read one chapter from Matthew a day until I finish it. Start to Finish. And by taking it piece by piece I hope that helps me to study it more fully and think about it more carefully. I also hope that takes the "Oh my gosh will I have time to do this today?" edge off and let it be. There is enough time. God is the creator of time.

Matthew 1.
When Joseph, who as preachers have described as having led a quiet and God-centered life, just wanted to marry Mary (pun-intended) and continue to do so, found out there was a change in the game plan, I wonder if he thought to himself or out loud, "God, are you serious?"

Has anyone else ever felt that before? You're working hard, going to church, praying, not killing anybody...seemingly enough, minding your own business and trying to be a good person. Can't you just marry a good person and live a good life? Or you're working hard in school and about to graduate, can't the job just find you? Or you want me to move where, God? Or don't you want me to do something bigger, God?

Lots of these thoughts can creep up on us. It's nomal.

So, there was Joseph... an angel came to him in his dreams and said, "Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid...." Easier said than done sometimes, God! Help! And He already has made plans to do so. Every fear, doubt, worry, or anxious thought we will ever carry, God is READY and WILLING to take it. (1 Peter 5:7)

God doesn't want us to be afriad of His Will! His Will is GOOD (Romans 8:28)!

God also doesn't want us to think we aren't good enough. We are HIS! He made us! Of course we don't deserve the grace he gives! But he GIVES it to us FREELY because HE LOVES US. He chose us before we ever knew about Him! "Praise thee; For We are fearfully and wonderfully made.." (Psalm 139:14)

When the angel told Jospeh not to worry about taking Mary as his wife, the angel does not say (at least not in what I have read in the Bible or here in Matthew 1) everyone around you is going to understand "your situation" and it's about to be much easier than it was before. No, that's not what probably happened at all. In fact, in those days people, alot like they still would and do today, probably gossip policed "that situation" with a quickness. Funny how "hot gossip" then gets a rise out of people just as much as it does now. But what sets Joseph a part, just like it can set us a part too, is that he BELIEVED in God's plan and desire for him to fulfill over what people would think. He listened, heard God say "Go", and Joseph went.

GOD IS REAL and HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS. "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14).

Joseph did take a risk. He "grew up" and rose for the challenge. He was bold, not for himself, but for God. He said, "Yes, God take my life and let it be an offering to Your Kingdom" with his actions. No, we don't know exactly what Joseph thought, said, or did on a day to day basis. But we do know what HIStory has told us. His life did make a significant impact on each one of us even today. He helped raise Jesus as his own son on this earth! The angel said, "She will bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

How's that for an attention grabber? But see, there! See what it's saying! That was it! Joseph probably, like all of us, at some point in his life asked God, "What is your plan for me?" And there it was! His plan was to take Mary as his wife, love her son Jesus Christ as his own, and name him Jesus.

We don't all get a dream like Joseph's that sets it so clearly from that point on. But God does have a plan for all of us! He made us on purpose and every single breath we take is on purpose.

"So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, 'GOD WITH US.'" The Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her frstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus" (Matthew 1:22-25).

Lord,
Please give us all the courage to wake up and live boldly for you every day. Please give us strength in the days to come and peace, both of which only you can truly give. Father, please make the unknown in our lives known in your time. Please give us patience while we wait. Please comfort us and please energize us. We want to know you, love you, and complete the mission you made for us. Thank you for your Son, and Jesus thank you for the new life you give us.
All this we pray and ask in Jesus' Name,
Amen.