"When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did what the angel of the Lord Commanded him;
he took her as his wife,
but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;
and he named him Jesus."
Matthew 1:25
The cardboard sign posted in the hallway at the elementary school hosting our Applalachia Service Project mission team read: "God doesn't ask your ability or your inability, only your availability." All these years later, that sign still pops into my head whenever I question whether or not I have what it takes to do what God is calling me (us) to do.
If Joseph was anything, he was available. After learning of Mary's pregancy many would have turned and run. Isn't that what we most often do when someone hurts us? We hurt them back by cutting them off, pushing them away. We become unavailable. But Joseph chose to dismiss Mary quietly, to be open and thoughtful in the process. He did not desire to hurt Mary, only to remedy the situation in the best way possible. His openness, his availability made it possible for him to receive God's revelation.
That night, God's messenger, an angel appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."
I wonder how many messages we've missed because we were not available to hear, not available to receive? ...not available because we were angry, not availabe because we were too busy, not available because we just didn't care?
Advent proclaims the comings of Christ--"whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, whose return in final victory we anticipate and who comes continually in Word and Spirit." Joseph was prepared to listen and act upon God's calling in his life. Will we be prepared to listen and act when God calls upon us--today? Are you available?
Advent Blessings,
Rich
If Joseph was anything, he was available. After learning of Mary's pregancy many would have turned and run. Isn't that what we most often do when someone hurts us? We hurt them back by cutting them off, pushing them away. We become unavailable. But Joseph chose to dismiss Mary quietly, to be open and thoughtful in the process. He did not desire to hurt Mary, only to remedy the situation in the best way possible. His openness, his availability made it possible for him to receive God's revelation.
That night, God's messenger, an angel appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."
I wonder how many messages we've missed because we were not available to hear, not available to receive? ...not available because we were angry, not availabe because we were too busy, not available because we just didn't care?
Advent proclaims the comings of Christ--"whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, whose return in final victory we anticipate and who comes continually in Word and Spirit." Joseph was prepared to listen and act upon God's calling in his life. Will we be prepared to listen and act when God calls upon us--today? Are you available?
Advent Blessings,
Rich
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