The Righteous Person
(Matthew 3:1-12)
“Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (Matt 1:19). The Lord considered Joseph righteous in the decision to divorce Mary quietly, as he had compassion on her despite knowing about her pregnancy. Joseph’s personality resembled the heart of the Lord, who incarnated Himself so that sinners would not be destroyed, but rather gain eternal life.
1. The Person who takes Responsibility
When an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and revealed the truth to him, his anguish clearly disappeared. He pledged to take his full responsibility for Jesus’ birth, which was entrusted to him. “I will certainly protect Mary whom God is using. Even if any crisis comes to me, I will take care of the son conceived in her to the end so that he will be born safely and grow well. I will complete my duty as a lawful father for Him, who is conceived with the Holy Spirit!” Joseph fulfilled his role perfectly, and thus Jesus was considered as the Son of God, not as an illegitimate child.
2. The Kind Person
Likewise, when the kingdom of God faced a crisis, Joseph was willing to offer his life. God originally did not need to face any crisis, but He personally entered into the crisis to save humanity from sin. The ones who provided help to the Lord on this earth were all righteous people. They were kind-hearted people who wanted others to do well and were willing to suffer and make sacrifices for them without fear, not the ones who awfully condemned others by claiming principles.
3. The Repentant Life
Unfortunately, most of us do not have this personality like Joseph and the righteous ones who helped God on earth. However, the Lord gave us the grace to be born again, because He expected us to repent and have a kind conscience and faithful faith with help of the Holy Spirit. Then, what would you do in times of crisis for the Kingdom of God? Are you going to turn away for your own success when the kingdom of God is in crisis? Or willingly fulfill the duties for the Kingdom of God?
February 19, 2023
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
