Tuesday, February 10, 2015

my dilemma isn't the problem


This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. - Matthew 1:18-19
Our weekly team rhythm saw us reflect on this passage this week.  Matt asked us a number of great questions - one of them had me thinking:

"If Joseph conceals Mary's pregnancy, he will be opposing the law of the Lord. What is a "righteous" man to do?"

What is a righteous man to do?

Someone said, "If he was 'righteous' then he'd marry her anyway."


Someone else, "It's not as simple as that - the Jewish law dictated that he should 'divorce' her."


It was an interesting conversation. 


Joseph had a dilemma - and his heart was good - but hindsight reveals that his well-intentioned plan would not have ended well.  


Joseph's dilemma was not his problem.  Joseph's problem was that he did not yet have the full story.  That's where the angel comes in - Matthew 1:20-21.


Action based on information without revelation never ends well.  


In the sliver of time between assumption and perspective, I'm hoping that I can remember:  


- my dilemma is never the problem - 
- my problem is that I may not yet have the full story -
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