On the 3rd Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me...The Gift of His Plan

Joseph
The Forgotten Member of the Christmas Story

There is no doubt you are being bombarded with everything Christmas. It’s everywhere you look! Turn on the television and there are commercials offering you the greatest bargains you could ever hope for. Decorations line the streets and radio stations blast “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”. Sometimes you don’t want to rock around another Christmas tree--you just want a few moments of peace and quiet! Your heart is filled with so many questions, and in this time when our attention is turned to God’s plan for humanity, you can’t help but wonder about His plan for you. Today would be a good day to sit down with Joseph. Share a few moments with the man who adopted the Savior. The one who wiped His nose and taught Him a trade. The one whose heart must have carried as many questions that first Christmas as yours does this Christmas.

Have you ever really thought about Joseph? What he thought and felt? He knew all about a life that doesn’t go according to a plan! He thought he would marry the girl down the road, he’d build her a nice home and they’d have children--together--and they’d be like everyone else. Sound familiar? He had no idea that God had such a plan and that he would play such a role! Don’t you imagine he must have scratched his head more than once as he pondered the part he was to play in this scene? “God, why me? Why did You choose me? I don’t know if I can do this!” Can’t you see his face as he tried to get Mary settled in a stable for the birth of Jesus? “God, I’m failing You. I’m failing her. I’m failing Him. I can’t do this right. I just can’t do this. I just wanted to get married and have a family, God! I feel like such a failure!”

Scripture doesn’t tell us much about Joseph so we don’t really know if he felt like this or not. We do know that he must have loved Mary, and that he trusted God with all of his heart. No matter what his exact thoughts were, he had to be amazed at the magnitude of the role he was called upon to play. I believe there were times when his calling felt too heavy, the job seemed too hard. Does yours? Especially during times when society focuses so intensely on perfect family gatherings and idyllic holiday scenarios? Think again on Joseph.

During the times Joseph must have struggled in feeling like he wasn’t doing enough for his unique family, Heaven must have smiled. Why? Because Joseph’s trusting heart was leading him down the path Heaven had planned for him. He couldn’t see the entirety of God’s plan and couldn’t understand all that he was asked to do, but his servant’s heart trusted God. He was playing a role in the events that would change not only his world, but the world.

There are times as you are called upon to trust facets of God’s plan that you do not understand, but your trusting heart may be changing someone’s world. Without plausible explanation, you know that the hours poured into a young person’s life will pay off one day whether you see the results or not. You give of your talent and your treasure to outreaches and ministry opportunities and know that the Holy Spirit will multiply your efforts and meet someone’s need through the gifts you’ve offered in His Name. Somehow, your servant’s heart keeps trusting in God and His magnificent plan for your life. And Heaven smiles because your trusting heart keeps you walking the path God has planned for you even when you cannot fully explain it.

Joseph may have winced when he looked inside that dirty, little stall where his sweetheart would labor to bring the Savior into the world. He may have thought he was doing Him an incredible injustice by not providing better. But God led him there just as He led the shepherd and the Magi there. Just as He led you to your Bible Study group, or into the care of your supportive friend or church family who loves you as you faithfully serve.

And Heaven smiles.