Message from Joe Frost, Director of Technology & Operations

Matthew-1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ...Joseph, being a just man...resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying...take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit...

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him...

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This man was not famous, rich, or a society icon in any way, but was very influential in the raising and caring of the son that would become a king.

Even the son's conception and birth were nothing less than miraculous. Kings far and near were made aware of the birth of this child and some came to pay homage to this child as a newborn. Yet not much is ever heard of the man other than his simple obedience right from the start.

The son is known as an influential speaker to the rulers and religious leaders of the time, yet the man is barely known or spoken about. The son started with little more than a handful of men, whose influence grew to over 5000 men - at one sitting and today is a global icon. The man, well no reference is made that he ever had an audience other than perhaps with his own family.
The man never became popular, but the mom is still spoken about today. She sang songs regarding the child, one memorialized forever in scripture. Even her visiting another relative is recorded, yet the man remained obscure.

Even up to the end of the son's ministry, when he calls out, "it is finished" the mom is said to have been there. We simply don't know if the man was there at all.

The man however - though relatively unknown - is briefly written about and used mightily by God. This man was Joseph and he was called a righteous man and was visited by an angel of God in a dream. In fact, the angel states for all time the lineage from which Joseph descends, "Joseph son of David."

The angel tells him that the child conceived in his wife is from God. And Joseph believes and obeys the command to not divorce her, but take her as his wife and name the child Jesus. Joseph hears and obeys a few more times moving the child and woman to safely avoid Herod's decree to kill the child.

He was never popular and by most standards, even today he remains an unsung hero. But only this one man was used of God to capture the child as it was delivered from the womb, to the breast, and to the manger to rest. Only this man was used of God to clothe, feed, and nurture this God infant. Only this man was used as an earthly father to this heavenly child.

And just like Joseph, we don't have to be popular to be used mightily of God. But perhaps we do need to listen and obey.