A hero story

Forget Santa, forget Rudolph, forget Scrooge. We know who really has the Christmas spirit... Joseph. This simple carpenter (who doesn't even get a mention in two of the Gospels) shows us beautifully that Christmas is all about Jesus. Why does God choose a man with a certificate in woodwork to become his only Son's foster-parent? Why not a rabbi or a king? Because 'man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart' (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV).

Joseph 'was an honourable man and did not want to disgrace [Mary] publicly. So he decided to break the marriage agreement with her secretly' (Matthew 1:19 GWT). Many men in that time would have dragged their fianc out into the street and maybe stoned her if they so much as suspected she was carrying someone else's child. But an angel spoke to Joseph: 'Don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins' (Matthew 1:20-21 GWT).

Joseph placed God's plans above his own, even though Jesus was not his biological child. His obedience changed the course of history. What a hero!



So what now? Be a bit more like Joseph... who was prepared to change his personal world for the whole world to be blessed, who would put up with the scorn of others for the sake of Jesus. You are created to be a hero in God's story too.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Her husband Joseph was an honourable man.' Matthew 1:19 GWT
— SOULFOOD —

1 Cor 10-11, Matt 2:1-12, Ps 139:1-12, Pro 31:25-27