Christmas Challenges (Part Two)
THE CHALLENGE OF FAMILY
"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her (Mary) a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."
(Matthew 1:19-20)
How can family be a Christmas challenge? It was for Mary and Joseph. Here Mary is with child before they came together as husband and wife. It is not mentioned in the text how her family felt about this discovery.
I am sure it was with shock and unbelief, along with a severe disappointment with Mary. In other words, "Mary how could you have done such a thing? How are we going to explain this, not only to our family and friends, but to the religious order?"
And here in the midst of the betrothal, what is Joseph to do?
He is to become apart of the family, but now he must decide what to do with Mary. He does not want to put her life in danger as we find in Deuteronomy 22:23-24 (Please read), but to divorce her quietly.
In her family's defense, along with Joseph, we can understand their initial response. But an angel came to Joseph in a dream, and assured him that it is the will of God that he take Mary as his wife. Because the baby she is carrying, was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And the question comes to my mind, would her family and friends, and the religious order, accept that truth?
It is evident to me, that Mary and Joseph felt alone in the decision they made. I don't see the family support in this. She now is in the category of being like a prostitute, and they would not have that taint the reputation of the family. Do we see the challenge yet? I'm sure we do.
The question I want us to look at is" "In what Mary and Joseph went through, how does this apply to us today?" I believe that in many families today, the total focus of the Christ Child is not happening at Christmas. Yes, the materialistic side of Christmas is pursued, as we get into the purchase of gifts. The pleasurable side of Christmas is enjoyed, as we plan and participate in social parties and family gatherings.
And if your family is not into the total worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of putting Jesus, the Christ Child first at Christmas, there will be a misunderstanding of priorities in the family. "Why are you going to church for a Christmas eve service?" "Why are you always talking about why Jesus came into this world?" "Why do you care so much about the needs of others at Christmas?" "Shouldn't you be focused on having fun, and self fulfillment?"
Like Mary and Joseph we feel alone in our worship and total focus of the Christ-Child. But there comes an inner peace, as we draw near to the Lord. In this worship, God comes to us, and His presence embraces us, and makes us feel that we are not alone, but that He is with us.
He is Emmanuel - God with us always!
In spite of the challenges of family, when we put the Christ-Child first, and let everything else about Christmas be placed down the list of priorities, it Is then, that we will feel that we are having more than a "White Christmas", but we are having a "Right Christmas!" GP
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