December 9:
B.C. verse: Matthew 1:18-21
A.D. verse: Romans 8:28, 31
Christmas hymn: “Mary’s Boy Child”
Hymn for today: “Trust and Obey” and “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
is an Aaker family Christmas classic. When the kids were little, we had a
“list” of Christmas movies that we watched in a certain order throughout the
Christmas season. The Grinch was among
the kick-off movies for the season, so we are all well-versed in Grinchology.
For as many times as I have watched this movie, I came to an important
realization today: The Grinch isn’t the most important character in that movie.
While the Grinch’s transformation from nasty to nice provides the
narrative structure, the real star of the show is Cindy Lou Who. Cindy Lou had grown up hearing all sorts of
nefarious tales about the Grinch, but she had a nagging instinct about the
Grinch’s true character. Cindy Lou could have joined the status quo, and the Grinch
would have persisted as the miserable misanthrope he had become. However, even though she was just a kid, Cindy
Lou bravely swam against the current, risking both her and her family’s
reputation. Ultimately, her actions led to an improved state of being for
everybody in Who-ville (including the Grinch). In short, because Cindy Lou
moved when prompted, lives were changed.
It seems Joseph of Nazareth and Cindy Lou have some things in common.
Oftentimes, Joseph is treated like window dressing in the Christmas
story. Mary gets all the press while Joseph plays the role of the nice man who “drove”
the donkey and looked for a room in Bethlehem. The fact is, however, Joseph is
the antihero who rises as the true protagonist mostly because HE was the direct
lineage to Christ. “Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the descendants of David” (Luke 1: 27).
When Joseph found out that his betrothed was with child, he had an
important decision to make. Like Cindy Lou, he had to decide whether or not he
wanted to risk public embarrassment. At first, it seems pretty clear which
direction he planned to go. “Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and
did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her
quietly (Matthew 1:19).
Honestly, his decision seems like a moot point. The Christ child was
going to be born, with or without Joseph’s involvement; Mary was already
pregnant. For whatever reason, God wanted
Joseph to be in on the action and become the fulfillment of his name, which
means “May Jehovah add and increase.”
Apparently, this issue was so important to God that “an angel of the
Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be
afraid to take Mary home as your wife’” (v20).
Why a dream? One simplistic explanation is that a dream was one way to
capture Joseph’s full attention. Undoubtedly, since Joseph was a righteous man
according to Scripture, he was probably struggling to decide what the right
course of action was; this probably meant that his mind was troubled and
preoccupied. In a dream, God specified what needed to be done, and since Joseph
was a good and moral man, he responded to God’s voice.
As part of the lineage of Christ, Joseph came from a long line of men
who moved in faith even when common sense and tradition said no. . . Abraham,
Moses, David. It was now Joseph’s turn to maintain that tradition through an
important faith decision. Fortunately, Joseph chose righteousness and was
ultimately blessed as his name foretold. “And we know that in all things, God
works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His
purposes” (Romans 8:28).
God didn’t NEED Joseph to help fulfill His Plan; He wanted Joseph to
CHOOSE to be a part of His Plan. Even though Joseph was derived from a lineage
of faith, the quality was not hereditary; it was chosen. Since Joseph was to
become the earthly father to God’s Son, he needed to prove he was a man of
faith, ready for the task.
His simple obedience in spite of the controversy and adversity is an
example to us all. Truly, “what, then, shall we say in response to this? If God
is for us, who can be against us?” (v 31).
Daily Challenge: Give someone the benefit of the doubt today. Trust
him/her.
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