Heroes of Christmas: Joseph

Welcome to another inspiring episode of The Heartbeat of Faith Podcast, hosted by Dr. Andrew Farley. Today we delve into the remarkable story of Joseph, a forgotten hero of Christmas. Joseph's tale is a testament to quiet but profound service, a tribute to those who faithfully work behind the scenes, without complaint or recognition. His journey begins with heart-wrenching news – the woman he was engaged to, Mary, is pregnant, and the child is not his. Under the law of the land, Joseph had the right to publicly accuse Mary of adultery, and society would have supported him. He could have vented his confusion, anger, and bitterness on Mary. However, he chose a different path, one of honor and kindness, and he decided not to harm her.

Sign up for free devotionals on each episode at https://www.HeartbeatOfFaith.com 

Joseph's commitment to Mary and the child is an extraordinary example of humility, self-sacrifice, and courage. He served them throughout his life, embodying the true nature of Christ. As we read in Philippians 2:1-4, Joseph's story reminds us of the importance of humility and caring for others. When Herod threatened their lives, Joseph again stepped up, ready to protect Jesus. His devotion and humility in the face of adversity challenge us to evaluate our own faithfulness and willingness to stand by our loved ones in difficult times. Joseph is a true hero of Christmas, reminding us that there is honor in wholehearted devotion and the quiet, steady force for good. 

Download the Pray.com app today to experience the vivid revelation of God's divine presence through cinematic storytelling, guided by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

For more encouragement in God's grace visit AndrewFarley.org.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray, doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit,
but in humility, each counting others better than himself. Each
of you not just looking to his own things, but
each of you also to the things of others. Philippians,
Chapter two, verses three through four. Lord Jesus, your sacrifice

(00:26):
on the cross was the ultimate example of humility. You
came down to earth so I could join you in heaven.
I want to learn from your humility and serve the
people around me. I choose not to walk by the flesh,
but by your spirit. For the sake of your kingdom.
I want to be a support to those who need encouragement.

(00:48):
Be my quiet patience and humble resilience. Be my strength,
and be my everything. Remind me of your resurrection life
in me. When circumstances get chaotic and I'm tempted to
act selfishly, remind me that my new self is not selfish,

(01:09):
and that I will only be truly fulfilled by loving
those around me. In Jesus's name, I pray Amen, Thank
you for praying with me today. Now discover the profound
intricacies of the heartbeat of faith with doctor Andrew Farley.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
We all need those pillars in our lives, those who
hold us up and support us in the pursuit of
our destiny. Joseph shows us there's honor in wholehearted devotion
to the people we love, and glory in being a strong, silent,
and steady force for good.

Speaker 3 (01:58):
Joseph got up from the bed and look out the window.
Screams could be heard in the distance. The sound of
crying infants and wailing mothers echoed for miles away. Joseph
knew that this is what he was called to do,
protect Mary and protect the child.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
Welcome back to another episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
I'm your host, doctor Andrew Farley, and I'm glad you're
joining me today as we celebrate Joseph's story and salute
his quiet service to the Lord. His story began with
heartbreaking news his fiancee was pregnant and the child wasn't his.

(02:39):
According to the law of the land, Joseph had every
right to have Mary stoned in public for adultery, and
his peers would have said his actions were justified. He
could have taken out his confusion, anger and bitterness on Mary,
but instead he honored her.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
Now, the birth of Jesus Christ was like this after
his mother, Mary was engaged to Joseph. Before they came together,
she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit Joseph, her husband,
being a righteous man and not willing to make her
a public example, intended to put her away secretly. Matthew

(03:23):
won eighteen through nineteen.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
Joseph was forced to make a difficult decision. He knew
he couldn't follow through with the marriage if Mary had
been unfaithful. However, he chose not to make a public scene.
His ways mirrored those of his forefather, David, who was
also known for his mercy to those who heard him.

(03:49):
God appeared to Joseph in a dream, inviting him into
the grand and redemptive Gospel story.

Speaker 3 (03:59):
It was eight and the night sky was painted with
bright stars. Joseph looked up at the vastness of the universe.
He felt small sitting under the galaxies, and thought about
the great plans of God. Then he looked down to
see Mary lying on her side under the blankets. Joseph
stroked her hair and covered her shoulders with the covers.

(04:20):
They were on their way to Bethlehem for the censes.
Joseph had wed Mary despite his doubts. It hurt at
first when he saw that she was with child, but
the Lord was faithful and visited him in a dream.
He told him of how Mary became pregnant. Joseph went
from overwhelming heartbreak to overwhelming gratitude. Why did the Lord

(04:42):
choose me, he thought to himself. He was honored and
felt the intense responsibility of caring for the Son of
God and his mother. He sat up all night, determined
to protect her and the unborn child. In just a
day's time, they would be in Bethlehem the birth of David.
It was where Joseph's family was from. He looked at

(05:04):
his wife, filled with tender love for her and the
baby living within. She would give birth any day now,
and Joseph knew time was running out to get into Bethlehem.

Speaker 2 (05:16):
Joseph married Mary and cared for her and the baby
with his whole being. Picture the courage and humility it
took for Joseph to care for Mary and endure the
ridicule of his peers even more, Joseph served Mary and
Jesus his whole life, trusting the heart and plan of God.

Speaker 3 (05:40):
If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any,
consolation of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if
any tender mercies and compassion. Make my joy full by
being like minded, having the same love, being of one
accord of one mind, doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit,

(06:02):
but in humility, each counting others better than himself, each
of you not just looking to his own things, but
each of you also to the things of others Philippians
two one through four.

Speaker 2 (06:19):
Joseph showed his willingness to lay his life down for
his family. When Herod sent out a decree for every
child under two to be taken, Joseph sprang into action
to protect Jesus.

Speaker 3 (06:36):
Joseph awoke in the middle of the night from a nightmare.
Sweat dripped down his head and back. He looked quickly
at his wife beside him and a child resting in
her arms. Joseph was panting. The Lord had appeared to
him in a dream, telling him to flee with his
family to Egypt. Joseph got up from the bed and
looked out the window. Screams could be heard in the distance,

(06:58):
the sound of crying infants when wailing mothers echoed from
miles away. Joseph knew that this is what he was
called to do, protect Mary and protect the child. He
gathered up all their belongings and loaded them on to
the donkey. Then gently Joseph picked up his wife and
the infant in his arms. He rested them softly on

(07:19):
the donkey and then led them away to Egypt. There
they found refuge until Herod met his bitter end.

Speaker 2 (07:28):
Joseph's devotion to Mary and faith in God in the
midst of difficult circumstances is worth reflecting on this Christmas season.
Mary would not have been able to endure without Joseph
by her side. We all need those pillars in our lives,
those who hold us up and support us in the

(07:50):
pursuit of our destiny. Joseph shows us that there's honor
in wholehearted devotion to the people we love. Thank you
for listening to today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
If you enjoyed today's episode or learn something new about
the Bible, share it with a friend or family member.

(08:12):
Download thepray dot Com app, and for more encouragement in
God's grace, visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's Andrewfarley dot org,