Joseph & Life Adjustments - Matthew 1:20
Joseph was very perplexed – he knew what he had and had not done. He was hoping and praying about Mary’s situation [She had never lied to him before]. What was Joseph’s next move supposed to be?
v. 20 “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying . . . “
Does God ever speak to you in dreams? We can certainly find many occasions that support this practice. Elihu [one of Job’s friends] mentions: “For God does speak – now one way, now another – though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds . . . ” Job 33:14-15 Unquestionably, dreams may be born from the day’s events or maybe from a pizza eaten too late at night. But we need to remain open to God’s communication.
Most of us want God to speak to us and offer advice or present our next assignment. However, we are not at all interested in making major adjustments in our lives. When God spoke to folks in the Scriptures about things He wanted them to do, major overhauls were the order of the day. They had to adjust their lives to God. Once these alterations were made, He was able to accomplish His purposes through them.
Adjustments may be required in a number of areas including: your circumstances, your relationships, your thinking, your commitments, your beliefs, or even your actions among a whole array of other things. To move forward from your own personal strategy – God always requires a major adjustment. Once these modifications have been made, you can follow God in obedience.
Dear Lord,
Help us to understand that You are our center of gravity. Help us choose wisely especially when other lives are affected. Help us discern ambition from calling, and heart’s desires from the world’s call. Amen.
I Love you!
Stay faithful and finish strong,
dale
In O.T. times, the Word of God had not been revealed in it’s entirety. The use of dreams was one of many ways God revealed his will. The O.T. believers also were not permanently indwelled with the Holy Spirit, whose presence was given for a time then taken away.
Christ has given us (believers) the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and we have the complete revelation of God’s Word. So the use of dreams to reveal his will has certainly been diminished.
The problem is that most of the time we look to God to “rubber stamp” our own will, not reveal his will to us. If we are truly open to His will, then major adjustments are not show stoppers.
When our personal strategy is different from God’s strategy, then adjustments can become major adjustments.
Mathew 6:9-10 “This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.