God's Boy

Daily Reading:  Luke 3

...being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph... (Luke 3.23)

Devotional Thought: In Luke 3, today’s chapter, the gospel writer, shares the genealogical record of Jesus all the way back to his heavenly Father.  What struck me about this genealogy, however, was the statement in verse 23 that Jesus was "the son (as was supposed) of Joseph."

Consider that for a few moments.  Jesus was not really the son – at least not biologically – of Joseph, but everyone supposed he was.  Why was that?  It was because Joseph adopted Jesus as his own!  He suffered shame as he married Jesus’ mother and provided a home for them.  He sheltered and clothed and fed Jesus as he was growing.  He took him to “church” and to the carpenter shop with him.  He probably played “ball” with him or other games that children played with their fathers in that day.  Later, when Joseph died, I’m sure that Jesus was grieved.  So, people came to think of Jesus – quite naturally – as Joseph’s son.  It was an assumption for which Joseph was proud!

I remember overhearing a conversation when I was about 8 or 9 years old.  I was at a Christmas party for my dad’s company.  Everyone there knew that I was adopted by my stepfather, but in my boyish innocence I didn’t know that they knew.  One of those present said, “He doesn’t look like his mother.”  Well, I just piped up and said, “No, I look like my dad!”  I had no idea what my biological father looked like, and those men knew that there was no reason for me to look like my adoptive father.  But, I wanted them to think - to suppose - that I was “Doc’s” boy.  And you know what?  I want people to suppose now that I am God’s boy!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you have adopted me as your child.  Help me to look more and more like you with every passing day, so that people will say of me, "He is God's boy, or she is God's girl."  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 134.1-3

1 Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD!

2 Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!

3 May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!