You count

Hi Riley boy,

You are second in order of birth, but you are second to none in importance. Never have you been without a brother and barely one year were you without a little brother as well. So lonely you are not. But unique you are. In your family and classroom, as well as among your Christian friends, you count as an important member, always contributing in a positive way…well, most of the time anyway…as I doubt that you are perfectJ

For the next few blogs, I will still be talking about the beginning of life on earth for Jesus and tonight I am thinking of Joseph. The reason Joseph brought his wife to Bethlehem, from his point of view, was to be counted. A census was being taken and Joseph had to travel to the “hometown” to be registered as a citizen of that area. Of course we know that was how God worked it out to fulfill another of the prophesies from the Old Testament that identifies Jesus as the Savior promised by God for hundreds of years. Joseph may have been aware of the prophecy as he was a Jew and probably knew the scriptures but it must have been a surprise that he was a valuable member of the team. Joseph was not the genetic father of Jesus, but God chose him to be one of the most valuable players in the childhood of Jesus. I would say he definitely counted!!

Can you imagine how relieved Joseph must have been when he, at last, found a place for Mary to lie down…even if it was a stable it was off the road and she could have the baby privately. Can you imagine how amazed he must a been when the wise men came and brought gifts? Wow! Now he could buy food and pay rent until he could get back to the carpentry business. You can not imagine the overwhelming love he must have felt when he picked up that soft, perfect little baby boy, the son of his beloved Mary and the son of God! Someday you’ll have an inkling…when you pick up a child of your own.

Riley, you count in your family but ESPECIALLY in God’s family as you were adopted in when you were baptized.

Luke 2:4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

Perhaps you will pray, “Thank you, Lord, for the caring Joseph gave to your son, and thank you for caring for me as your adopted son.”