Christ, Come Your Way

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).

I am sure that Joseph, like many faithful Jews, was anticipating the coming of the Messiah.  I am also pretty sure he envisioned it happening some other way - a way that did not include him so personally.  Like many of those God has come to and called through the ages, it was tempting to step back and say, "Thanks, but no thanks."  Of course, that was not an option. Yet, so many of the times and ways Christ comes and calls on us to be part of His coming into people's lives and the needs of this world are ignored, rejected, and overlooked by us. We get a glimpse, catch the gist, and realize the enormous potential involved, yet we are too afraid or faithless to think God can/should/would use us in the process. We take a pass.  When we say "Come, Lord Jesus, Come", if we are begin sincere, we will let it be His time, His way. Like Joseph, may we chose  to respond in obedience.