December 6, 2015

SEARCHING AND SECURITY

Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph made a decision. After going through the turbulence of learning that his betrothed was “with child” without him, he had made a resolution to divorce her quietly, rather than creating the spectacle of exposing her to public disgrace. Maybe Joseph even felt a little sense of self-satisfaction about what he was going to do… the next day… even if his decision was actually wrong. He was so righteous in not wanting to bring Mary shame, that he thought his idea was the right thing. It happens all the time… Think of Sarah, childless after years with Abraham, but knowing that, somehow, Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. She decides to give him some intimate time with her servant Hagar, thinking that she could have a child for Abraham through her handmaid. That hair-brained idea backfired later. Whenever the people of the Bible stories tried to make things happen apart from God’s plan and God’s will, it always backfired. Think of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9); Esau selling his birthright to Jacob, then Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing. (Genesis 25:29-34, 27:5-29) the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-20) … The Bible is rife with stories of breakdowns and chaos coming as the result of humans taking God’s purposes into their own hands. But… God was still able to bring the divine plans to fruition… in spite of human fumbling.

Where Joseph is concerned, however, God altered his intended path before he was able to take a single step. Joseph’s sense of resolution would come, but not after some considerable inner turmoil, and, searching. What happened was that “after he had considered this (his plan to divorce Mary quietly), an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…” (Matthew 1:20) Joseph may have been searching, but not for answers. He was searching for a way out – out of embarrassment, out of shame, out of his relationship with Mary. But God was searching for a way to get to Joseph. He sent an angel into his dreams. Joseph may have done some serious searching after he heard Mary’s announcement, but it was his own way he was seeking, not God’s. All too often, our searching is more about us than about God’s way, God’s plan, God’s purpose. I have known many people who were in anguish and inner turmoil, who were doing some inner searching, only to come up with their own solutions rather than solutions in accord with God’s Way and God’s Word. Too often we become satisfied when we find ways to justify our actions when what we should decide to do is repent, and follow God’s ways. A married man, once, who was behaving immorally with another woman, justified his sin by saying that God had brought the other woman back into his life, so it must be okay! Excuse me! There is no right way to do a wrong thing!

So God comes to us. Maybe we don‘t know it all the time because we can do a pretty good job of resisting the nudgings of His Holy Spirit, but God comes to us. Sometimes our conscience is haunted by our sense of guilt or our need for grace. It is then that, rather than just search within, we need to search within the Scriptures. Notice how there was a Scripture passage that Matthew mentions which is fulfilled by what is happening to Mary: “All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the Prophet (Isaiah 7:14): ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel.’” Joseph would be a special part of it all. He would have understood, if he had searched the Scriptures!

Anyway, the angel told Joseph, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Which Mary had told him in the first place!) “She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the Name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins!” (Matthew 1:20b-23) The clarity of his dream was so intense that Joseph didn’t hesitate. He was given such a strong sense of assurance that, now, he knew what was the right thing to do!

There was now a new resolve. Joseph was a very deliberate man. When he knew what was right, he did it. He was sure. God gave him a feeling of security about thisawesome experience…exactly when it was needed. Joseph was like the oil that lubricated the engine in the machine so the grace of God would work as well as possible. Now everything was going to be okay. Security. But not until after some serious searching. God had to find a way to get to Joseph. He sent an angel into his dreams!

Angels are everywhere!

We need to realize that there is a lot of searching that goes on during this time of year. Mostly we search for the gifts we want to give. But the greatest gift of all has already been given to all of us. May you find what you are truly looking for, and may you be given an assurance, a security, that God is with you, with you all.

MEDITATION

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect!

To the glory of RESOLUTION AND ASSURANCE

204 Emmanuel

211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel