One of the most difficult virtues to understand and practice as a Christian is submission. Submission to God, husbands and wives submitted one to another, it is against the very nature of the flesh. Women will say, "I could follow if he would lead." Men will say, "I don't hear from God. How can I know His will?" Both sound reasonable to an extent right?
Mary is an infamous virtuos woman in the bible. I mean, God chose her to be the mother of Christ! She had to be spiritually legit right? In reading Matthew chapters 1 and 2 , I noticed something I'd never really paid much attention to before. In the first two chapters of the New Testament, little is said about Mary. Her character, at least in these chapters is assumed. We don't see her giving Joseph backlash when he tells her they must up and go. We don't see her questioning what it is that the Savior should be named. We see her lining up with a man, her man, Joseph.
I saw a book years ago that I admit I have been meaning to read but haven't yet. Still, I have not forgotten the title of that book, Husband's Who Won't Lead and Wives Who Won't Follow. It spoke volumes to me because it's a predicament I've been puzzled with myself. How do you follow someone wandering aimlessly trying to find himself? How do you lead when you aren't sure you're headed where you're supposed to be?
Joseph is a great example of a submitted man. Everything God said do, he did. We don't even see a dialogue with God! An angel appeared in a dream with specific instructions, Joseph rose up and carried them out. We know that Mary found favor in the eyes of the Lord. I can't help but wonder if the man she was espoused to had something to do with that. Mary could have been the most godly woman on earth and had she been engaged to a self-righteous or disobedient man, may not have been a candidate to birth the Lord Jesus. But she was to marry a leader who also happened to be a great follower.
Had Joseph not followed the Lord's instructions to the tee, King Herod's men might have found and killed Christ. Had he not been submitted to God, he would have never married Mary in the first place!
Jesus is our only hope as non Jews for eternity with God. We are blessed today because Joseph was wholly submitted to God and balanced following God and leading his family.
Tomorrow I will share an article I wrote back in 2007 called Follow the Leader.......Leader. It is more focused on women following and leading those under our influence. In the meantime, pray for the men in your life to fully submit to the Word of God and follow His instruction without hesitation. Men and their families will be blessed for it.
God bless and keep you,
Devyn
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