Joseph's Transformative Faith: Embracing a Divine Call

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Welcome to In the Field Audio Bible, where we listen to the Bible one chapter at a time.

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I'm Christie, your host for this special series called the Christmas Story.

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I'm so glad you're here as we continue our journey exploring the timeless scriptures that tell of the birth of Jesus Christ.

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In our previous episodes, we began with the Gospel of John 1:1-14, where we marveled at the eternal word of God.

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John reminded us that Jesus, the light of the world, was present from the beginning and through him all things were made.

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We reflected on the profound truth that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, a divine act of love that brought God's grace and truth to humanity.

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Then we moved to the Gospel of Luke 1: 26- 56, where we heard the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary, a young woman chosen by God to bring the Savior into the world.

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Mary's humble and faith-filled response let it be to me, according to your word sets the tone for what it means to trust in God's promises.

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We also heard Mary's song, where she praises God for His mercy, his faithfulness and His ability to lift the lowly.

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If you haven't had a chance to listen to these foundational episodes, I encourage you to visit our website at inthefieldaudiobiblecom.

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There you can catch up on prior episodes and dive deeper into the story through our blog posts, which offer additional reflections and insights.

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Today we shift our focus to the Gospel of Matthew 1:18-25, where the story of Jesus' birth takes another significant step.

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Here we see the events unfold through the eyes of Joseph, Mary's husband-to-be, who faces a life-changing revelation.

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Through Joseph's encounter with an angel, we see God's plan to bring his son into the world begin to take shape, a plan that fulfills prophecy and demonstrates his redemptive power.

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Prophecy and demonstrates his redemptive power.

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As we explore this passage, we'll consider the courage, faith and obedience required to follow God's will, even when it challenges our understanding of how life should go.

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We'll also see how Joseph, like Mary, plays a vital role in the Christmas story by trusting in God's plan becoming an earthly father to Emmanuel - God with us.

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So settle in, take a deep breath and join me as we continue this journey through the scriptures.

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Together, let's reflect on the beauty and wonder of the story that changed the world forever the Gospel of Matthew 1:18-25.

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This is how the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, came about.

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His mother, Mary and Joseph had promised to get married, but before they started to live together, it became clear that she was going to have a baby.

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She became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Her husband, Joseph, was faithful to the law, but he did not want to put her to shame in public, so he planned to divorce her quietly.

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But as Joseph was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord had said, through the prophet, the virgin is going to have a baby.

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She will give birth to a son, son and he will be called Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:4).

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The name Emmanuel means God with us.

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Joseph woke up.

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He did what the angel of the Lord commanded him to do.

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He took Mary home as his wife, but he did not sleep with her until she gave birth to a son and Joseph gave him the name Jesus.

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In the Gospel of Matthew 1: 18- 25, one of the most profound aspects of Joseph's story is his responsibility to name the baby Jesus.

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This act may seem like a simple gesture, but in the context of Jewish culture and faith, it was deeply significant.

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Naming a child was not merely a way to identify them.

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It was an act of authority and recognition and a declaration of identity and purpose.

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By naming the child Jesus, joseph fully accepted his role in God's divine plan.

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The name itself, given by the angel, means the Lord saves.

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This was no ordinary name.

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It captured the mission and destiny of the child, who would grow up to be the savior of the world, and destiny of the child who would grow up to be the Savior of the world.

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When Joseph spoke this name, he was affirming his faith in the angel's message and declaring the truth of who this child was meant to be.

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It's also worth noting the legal and relational implications of Joseph naming Jesus.

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In naming him, Joseph publicly acknowledged the child as his own, effectively adopting Jesus into his family.

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This action solidified Jesus' place in the lineage of David, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah coming from David's house.

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For Joseph, naming Jesus was more than a duty.

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It was an act of obedience and trust in God's plan.

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By taking this step, he aligned his will with God's, even when the situation was beyond human comprehension.

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It was a tangible way of saying yes, Lord, I trust you and I will do as you ask.

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Imagine the weight of that moment for Joseph.

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The angel had revealed that this child would save his people from their sins.

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As a father, Joseph would be assigned with protecting, teaching and guiding this child, who carried the destiny of all humanity on his shoulders.

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In naming him Jesus, Joseph was not just giving the child a name.

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He was proclaiming hope and salvation to the world.

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Proclaiming hope and salvation to the world.

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Joseph's obedience in naming Jesus also serves as a powerful reminder to us.

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It challenges us to consider the ways we respond to God's call, especially when it requires stepping into roles that demand faith and courage.

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Just as Joseph accepted his role in the story of redemption, we too are invited to trust God and to align our lives with His greater purpose.

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Let's take Joseph's example to heart this Christmas season.

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His act of naming the child Jesus wasn't just about following instructions.

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It was about embracing God's plan with faith and humility.

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It was about declaring to the world that this child, born in the humblest of circumstances, was the Savior who would bring light to the darkness and hope to all people.

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As we reflect on this part of the Christmas story, may we, like Joseph, have the courage to trust God's plans, even when God challenges us to step out in faith.

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May we remember that every act of obedience, no matter how small it seems, plays a part in God's greater purpose.

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Thank you for joining me for today's episode.

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I hope that Joseph's story inspires you.

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I hope it inspires you to embrace the roles and responsibilities God places in your life, knowing that His plans are always good and for His glory.

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Until next time, may your heart be filled with peace and joy of Emmanuel, God with us.

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Until we meet again, wishing you grace and peace.