If you or I want to work in a certain occupation, then we must be a student of or follow that field. For example: If we want to be a…
Doctor, then I need to become a student of medicine.
Lawyer, then I need to become of student of the law.
Computer Consultant, then I need to a student of technology!
This is exactly the deficiency we find in “good churches” across America – men and women who want to be used of God who are not following God! Then they wonder why God is not using them to see souls saved, prayers answered, and lives transformed. If we want to be used of God, we MUST be students of the Word of God! – not students of immorality, not students of gossip, not students of bitterness, and not students of deception!
One man of God that we see used of God is “this man called Joseph.” He doesn’t heal anyone, nor does he perform any miracles. However, in a very quiet way we see God use this man to accomplish God’s will! Let’s consider the character of this one whom God chose to use to do His will. Turn to Matthew 1:18-25.
Contextual Background:
Virgin Birth -- It is interesting that in verse 16 of chapter 1, when Joseph is introduced, that part of the construction of key wording is in the feminine singular form. It is the phrase “of whom was born of Jesus….” The words “of whom” are in the feminine singular form. This is some of the strongest evidence for Jesus’ virgin birth! Jesus Christ came from Mary only, but not from Mary and Joseph. The virgin birth declares the Divine nature of Jesus.
Betrothed -- The man who betrothed a maiden was legally her husband (Genesis 29:21; Deut. 22:23) and “an informal canceling of betrothal was impossible.” Though they did not live together as husband and wife till actual marriage, breach of faithfulness on the part of the betrothed was treated as adultery and punished with death by stoning!
The Discovery – Verse 18 then continues by saying that Mary “was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” The discovery that Mary was pregnant was inevitable and it is plain that she had not told Joseph. The way in which verse 18 is worded plainly shows that the discovery shocked Joseph. We must also remember that he does not know at this time that the Holy Ghost was responsible for the pregnancy of Mary.
So, it is with this understanding of betrothal and the discovery of Mary’s pregnancy that we come to verse 19. How is this man of God, whom God uses, described? Let’s look at 3 marks of one who truly follows God.
A JUST MAN (MTT. 1:19)
“A Just Man.” The same adjective is used of Zacharias and Elizabeth in Luke 1:6 and of Simeon in Luke 2:25.
Theologians translate this phrase, “an upright man.”
Vine’s Expository Dictionary reveals that in the New Testament, this word “just” denotes “righteous,” a state of being right, right conduct, judged whether by the divine standard, or according to human standards, or what is right.
In other words, Joseph was a student of the law, and Mary found pregnant, would have been death by stoning (Deut. 22:23). Jospeh would know that. However, since Joseph was upright, he would not do that. Verse 19 emphasizes this conclusion with, “being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example.”
Matthew now makes a distinction through the Divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit between purpose and desire. It was not Joseph’s purpose to “make her a public example,” but rather his desire was to deal with the matter privately. Some scholars have said that this phrase (“public example”) gives the understanding of “defame or disgrace.” Joseph wants to avoid all the scandal as much as possible. He obviously loved Mary but was shocked to discover her being with child.
We face similar scenarios today where we have been hurt and we may even be just in hurting them back. For example, Jessica was sitting in study hall when she looked across the room and saw her best friend laughing with two other girls. Jessica was surprised to see her friend not sitting with her, after all, she was sitting alone. Then it happened. Her best friend turned in her direction and laughed out loud. Jessica immediately jumped to the worst conclusions. She was hurt, afraid, and angry. At the end of the study hall, Jessica had the opportunity to hurt her friend back…but she didn’t. Why? Because she wanted to do what was right…even when she was hurting.
By law, Joseph was entitled to publicly humiliate Mary, divorce her, and this act of adultery would ultimately put a death sentence on her head…but he didn’t. He was a just man.
He wasn’t looking out for himself, as much as he was trying to reconcile his love for his betrothed and this seeming betrayal of trust. God used Joseph’s willingness to do right no matter what the cost. This wasn’t based on his personal feelings or opinions. He didn’t rush to judgment. He didn’t want to make a scene…but doing right, in this case, would cost him. Sometimes the cost is great. It could be your reputation. It could be your possessions. It could even be your acceptance among your peers. Are you a “just” person?
AN OBEDIENT MAN (MTT. 1:20-24)
Joseph is now preparing to give Mary a bill of divorce. As he is thinking about these things, the angel of the LORD appears to him and directs him in the way that is right. Joseph has a teachable spirit!! The Lord directs this teachable man who is willing to do right in the way he needs to go. Joseph is told to take Mary as his wife (1:20). He is also told to name the baby Jesus and is given the baby’s mission (1:21). Joseph obeys!
To illustrate this, I want you to consider three different kinds of people: Those who won’t listen to instruction at all, those who will listen but not follow, and those who will listen, agree, and obey!
Suppose you are the boss of a small business and one of your employees is having a meeting with you. You tell the employee several things that you want him to do throughout the day. He then replies, “I am willing to do anything, but I just don’t want to do it today.” Is such a person truly useable in your business?
God uses the man who is not only willing to do right (he is a just man), but He also uses one who is willing to obey – no matter what the instruction! And don’t miss this, Joseph’s motivation to obey seems to be agape love!
Think about it for a moment. Are you motivated by love for your Savior to obey! Do you have limitations on what you will obey before God? Have you considered that your obedience is limited because your love is limited?! Do you choose which things you feel comfortable with obeying and reject the others? God uses those who are just and obedient! Are you just and obedient in your marriage, in your workplace, in raising your children, and in your own personal thought life?
AN ATTENTIVE MAN (MTT. 1:20; 2:13, 19)
An angel of the LORD actually appears to Joseph in a dream three different times between Matthew 1:20 and Matthew 2:20. In 25 verses an angel appears to Joseph 3 times!! In those times: Joseph is still, Joseph hears, and Joseph obeys.
Joseph is an attentive man! He is just, and he obeys, but he continues to be just and obey because he is attentive to the Lord’s will!
One must be attentive to God in order to be used of God.
Years ago, a man noticed a small “Help Wanted: Morse Code Interpretation” sign outside a local radio station. Curious, he walked in and found several applicants already waiting. After a while, one man suddenly stood up, walked straight into the manager’s office, and came out with the job. The others complained, saying, “We were here first! Why did he get it?”
The manager replied, “For the last five minutes, we’ve been tapping out a message in morse code over the speakers: ‘If you can hear this, come in…the job is yours.’ All of you were sitting here, but only one was actually listening.
God’s call is rarely shouted; it is usually tapped quietly across the moments of our lives. One must be attentive to God in order to be used by God.
You may say, “So what is the big deal about being used of God? I mean, I’m doing pretty well right where I am!” May I ask you:
Do you want your life to count for something with eternal value?
Do you live life realizing you will give an account before God – and no excuses will hold?
Do you desire meaning to your life? There is no greater meaning to life than fulfilling God’s will!
Are you impacting others in a way that leads them to God?!
If you are going to be used of God, you must be men and women of God – students of the Word of God!
Are you a just man or woman? Are you teachable?
Are you an obedient man or woman? Do you obey God without delay?
Are you an attentive man or woman? Do you look for, seek, and listen to God?
God used Joseph in the preparation stages for the deliverance from our sin! May God use each of us how He so chooses to accomplish His will! May He use us! May we be useable!