My romantic view of a stable vanished when I watched a camel project bodily filth in the direction of onlookers. My childhood notion that the first Christmas was all joy for the main characters evaporated too. Mary and Joseph experienced a bevy of challenges. 

In other words, the first Christmas included real people with real problems—people like us. Joseph’s faith inspires me.

Joseph Chose Kindness

Today, people justify destructive behavior because someone or something offended them. Joseph demonstrated kindness during major disappointment.

“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly” (Matt. 1:18-19 NLT).

Joseph’s fiancé returned from out-of-town three months pregnant. Her story about an angel’s visit and being a pregnant virgin must have stunned him. How could he have been so wrong about Mary? 

Under Moses’ law, anyone guilty of adultery would be stoned (Lev. 20:10). Joseph doubted Mary’s explanation, yet he showed kindness when he believed she’d betrayed him. He chose a quiet divorce to protect Mary from public shame.

Kindness allows the wrongdoer to return to God and His people. In Joseph’s case, when Mary’s reputation was cleared, he had to deal only with having doubted her story. He had no regrets about how he’d handled the matter.

Joseph Showed Courage

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’” (Matt. 1:20 NIV).

The angel addressed Joseph’s fears. Mary carried God’s Son. But to take pregnant Mary as his wife made him look immoral. Would their synagogue, families, and friends shun them and his carpentry business? 

Once Joseph knew God’s plan, he put aside his fears. Trusting God provides courage to follow Him despite our fears.

Joseph Trusted God’s Guidance

The Bible says God shares insights with those who walk with Him (Pro. 16:9; John 16:13). God directed Joseph step by step.

“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him’” (Matt. 2:13 NIV).

God’s ways—and timing—are not mine—they’re better (Is. 55:9). God directed Joseph when he needed it—not before. 

Joseph Obeyed God 

Joseph demonstrated the obedience of faith. 

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matt. 1:24).

“So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt” (Matt. 2:24 NIV).

He left, perhaps on foot, leaving behind what they couldn’t carry. He lost customers and started over. Joseph trusted God’s provision for the unknown.

Joseph Lived Within His Means

 At Christmas, we may feel pressured to overspend. The Christmas story shows Joseph’s humility.

“But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering” (Leviticus 12:8 NIV).

At Jesus’s circumcision Mary and Joseph couldn’t afford to offer a lamb. They offered “a pair of mourning doves or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24).

May Joseph’s example inspire us to trust God as we sojourn in this broken world.

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