Today is FATHER’S DAY.I want to speak about a Father

who is often overlooked.His wife is more prominent than

him.

I am talking about Joseph, the husband of Mary.

As much as God chose Mary to give birth to the Son of God, He also chose Joseph to be a Father to Jesus.

To lead Him to manhood.

Mary and Joseph were chosen together to be parents.

God went looking for a father.The role of the Father is an

important one.

They are needed for the spiritual act of raising a child.

God needed a man to fill the role of father in Jesus’ life.

If you are a single parent – do not despair that your children are beyond hope.

God is gracious.He will not forsake you.

God made a choice.He chose Joseph.What can we learn from

Joseph that can inspire fatherhood?

Joseph was a wonderful, caring and affectionate man.

You see this in his relationship with Mary.

Matt.1:19 – Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant.

What was he to think?Did he feel angry? Betrayed?

The penalty for adultery in the Old Testament was death by stoning.

Even before God spoke to Joseph, he did not have any vengeance or bitterness in his heart.

He wanted to put her away secretly.Joseph was already considering the

best way to do this.

Joseph was kind.He loved Mary.It was based on a real

commitment.

Eph.5:25 – As husbands we are to love our wives with all that we have.

We must love them sacrificially – just like how Christ loved the church.

Joseph was loving toward Mary.

Joseph was also loving towards Jesus.

There was no resentment or indifference towards Jesus even though Jesus was not own “flesh and blood.”

Joseph adopted Jesus as his own.

He protected Him from the hatred of Herod.

He nurtured and cared for Him.He even taught Jesus his own

trade – carpentry.He adopted Jesus but the world

rejected Him.

Joseph explicitly followed the Lord’s leading and direction.

He wanted God’s plan for his life.When God spoke to him in a

dream and told him to marry Mary – He obeyed.

When God said, “Take Mary and Jesus to Egypt” – he obeyed immediately.

He closed up his business and left.

Then God said, “Return to Israel” – he did as directed.

He was a man of obedience.He was also a man of faith.

It takes faith to pack your bags and leave for a foreign country.

There were no prospects nor planning.

Because God said so, he did.

Made no excuses to stay because of better prospects.

Fathers, your faith will speak to your children.

Raise them in an environment of faith toward God.

StoryFarmer and his crop.Needed a harvest to pay his

creditors.Hail storm. Harvest lost.

Son expected his father to curse in despair.

But instead heard him sing “Rock of ages cleft for me.”

Years later, the boy now a man said, “That was the greatest sermon I ever heard.”

Joseph was leaning on God.He was a man of faith.

He was also faithful in his spiritual duty.

He set an example for his family – going to the Temple; attending the feasts – Luke 2:41

He was regular in going to God’s house.

StoryDad, his son and Sunday school.“Get ready, hurry up.”“Are you going to come with

me?“No”.“Did you go to Sunday school

when you were a boy”?

“Certainly I did!”.“If it did not help you, it sure

would not help me too.”Our children watch our

faithfulness.

Joseph was wise because he lived as one who redeemed the time.

All records indicate that Joseph had a short life.

At the Cross, Jesus instructs John to look after His mother.

But Joseph used what time he had been given wisely.

He provided for his family.He set an example for them to

remember.

He raised them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Joseph had other children.Two of them were greatly

used by God.

Two of them wrote a book in the Bible – James and Jude.

James was also a leader in the church in Jerusalem.

He raised his children in the ways of the Lord.

He left a legacy after his lifetime.

Are you redeeming the time as Joseph did?

Are you setting an example for them to follow?

Are you showing enough affection, Godly counsel or loving concern?

Joseph was not perfect, but he did his best.