Message from the Monthly Flyer October 2017

A virtuous man called Joseph - Part 1

2 Corinthians 1:12 - KJV - For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

1 Peter 3:4 - ESV - But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Introduction

Without a doubt, he is one of the most discrete characters of the Bible. We don't have a lot of details on the life and character of Joseph, husband of Mary and adoptive father of Jesus of Nazareth, the Saviour of the world. But the few information that we have concerning him show that he was full of moral qualities and virtues. He still can be used today as a reference and a model for us. Foremost, he can be an excellent example for the fathers and husbands of today. During the next coming weeks, we will study the life and the character of Joseph to see what we can learn.

When we look at it closely, we discover that even though Joseph had a very discrete personality, he played a key role in the life of Mary, and by extension in the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He was not famous and he was not a celebrity, but just a simple carpenter who feared the God of his fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joseph was a pious Jew full of integrity who just wanted to build a family and take care of his wife and children like any other person would want to do. In the simplicity of his heart, he did not want too much from life. But this man who lived such a simple life and never really did anything extraordinay was elected by divine grace and had a crucial impact in God's plans for the salvation of mankind.

The Word of God tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:25-29 „Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.“ This passage of Scripture illustrates perfectly what the Father of creation did in the life of the one who is going to be our hero for the coming weeks. God chose such a humble man like Joseph to fulfill His plan of salvation for the whole world. And that is what we will see in details in the coming weeks. mt