A Devotional

Holy Engagements and Expectations
Joseph of Nazareth had expectations for his life. He had an engagement to Mary and was
planning for their future. Yet, God intervened with a greater plan, selecting this humble,
righteous man to raise Jesus, the Messiah, and act as His protector.

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to
Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy
Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her
publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. But after he had pondered these things, an angel of
the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace
Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 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…’
When Joseph awakened, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced
Mary as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him
the name Jesus.” Matt 1:18-24

Often the angel of the Lord would appear to Joseph in a dream with a warning or direction, and
Joseph would always awake and obey, altering his plans and following God’s guidance. The
scriptures record four dreams in total, though we do not know what other guidance was given
over the years, but the four include: the dream warning Joseph to flee to Egypt to escape King
Herod’s slaughter of the newborns (Matt 2:13), the dream to return from Egypt (Matt 2:20), and
the dream directing Joseph to head to Galilee instead of Judea upon their return (Matt 2:22).
For a number of years, Joseph was not in Nazareth, but transient and raising his son and caring
for his family in unfamiliar areas, not the life the humble carpenter of the small town would have
anticipated. Yet, he had been chosen above all men for a sacred duty, with qualifications that
were probably clear only to God. When the Holy family finally reach Nazareth again, Jesus was
not known by his own townspeople as the long-awaited Messiah, but as the carpenter’s
son. When Jesus’s ministry begins, as when He preaches in the synagogue or nearby along the
Sea of Galilee, the people question, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and
mother we know? How can He now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” John 6:42

But even though we learn from scripture that Joseph does not witness Jesus’s earthly ministry,
his righteousness, decisive reaction, and care are attributes to be admired.
This is a season when we, too, are looking forward to celebrating the birth of our Savior. We
have our own expectations of what that time in our lives looks like, but perhaps God has chosen
another path for us that we don’t yet see. We know the Good News that the Messiah was born to
save us, just like Joseph did. He had to keep it a secret to keep Jesus safe. We, on the other
hand, have been charged with sharing that Good News. When God presents the opportunities to
share this season react decisively— share the Good News! Jesus Christ Has Been Born to Save!
“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
Submitted by: Rachel Linkswiler