Finding God in Our New Challenges
Summary
In this challenging year of 2020, we have been learning that the truly unprecedented work is what God is doing through Jesus. Every day, Jesus brings something new into our lives: a new song, a new hope, a new spirit, a new name, a new community, and a new commandment. Today, we explore the idea that Jesus also brings new problems into our lives. When Jesus becomes part of our lives, the old problems remain, but we also encounter new ones. However, in these new problems, we find Jesus.
The story of Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew illustrates this beautifully. Joseph, engaged to Mary, discovers she is pregnant. Though she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit, Joseph has no way of knowing this for sure. Betrothal was a serious commitment, and Joseph faced a dilemma: how to honor the law without being cruel to Mary. He decides to divorce her quietly, sparing her public shame. This decision reflects Joseph's righteousness and compassion.
After Joseph makes this decision, an angel appears to him in a dream, instructing him not to fear taking Mary as his wife. This raises the question: why does God often come after we have struggled with our decisions? God’s timing is not ours, but He is always up to something. Through Joseph's struggle, he gains a deeper understanding of righteousness and finds Jesus in his troubles.
Joseph sacrifices his reputation and freedom, but he gains Jesus. He is told to name the child Jesus, meaning "God saves." This name signifies that our real problem is not our circumstances but our inner struggles—our ego, self-promotion, lust, greed, and resentment. Jesus saves us from these sins, offering us life with God.
The prophetic scripture states that the child will be called Immanuel, meaning "God with us." Salvation is not about being saved from pain or punishment but about being saved from our sins so we can have life with God. In 2020, especially, we find God in our problems. Today, let us not seek a way out of our problems but look to find God within them. Our God is a good God who loves us with an unwavering love, and Jesus is the embodiment of that love.
Key Takeaways:
1. Jesus brings newness into our lives, including new challenges. These challenges are opportunities to find Jesus and grow in our faith. Embracing these new problems with faith can lead to profound spiritual growth. [00:41]
2. Joseph's story teaches us about righteousness and compassion. Despite the potential for public shame, Joseph chooses to protect Mary, reflecting a deeper understanding of righteousness that goes beyond mere legalism. [02:06]
3. God's timing often seems delayed, but it is always perfect. Through our struggles and decisions, we gain insights and understanding that we might not have if God intervened earlier. [04:50]
4. Our real problems are not external but internal. Jesus saves us from our sins, which are the true barriers to a life with God. Recognizing and addressing these inner issues is crucial for spiritual growth. [08:08]
5. Salvation is about God being with us, not just rescuing us from difficulties. In our problems, especially in challenging times like 2020, we can find God's presence and love, which is the essence of salvation. [09:23]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:21] - Newness Through Jesus
- [00:41] - New Problems with Jesus
- [00:56] - Joseph's Dilemma
- [01:29] - Betrothal and Cultural Context
- [02:06] - Righteousness and Compassion
- [03:02] - Joseph's Decision
- [04:02] - Angel's Message to Joseph
- [04:50] - God's Timing
- [05:16] - Suffering and Growth
- [06:01] - Joseph's Sacrifice
- [07:11] - Meaning of Jesus' Name
- [08:08] - Inner Problems and Salvation
- [09:04] - Immanuel: God With Us
- [09:40] - Finding God in Problems
- [10:17] - God's Unwavering Love
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 1:18-25 - The story of Joseph and the birth of Jesus.
2. Isaiah 7:14 - The prophecy of Immanuel, "God with us."
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Observation Questions:
1. What dilemma did Joseph face upon discovering Mary's pregnancy, and how did he initially plan to resolve it? ([01:51])
2. How does the angel's message to Joseph in his dream change his perspective on the situation with Mary? ([04:14])
3. What does the name "Jesus" signify, and how does it relate to the purpose of Jesus' coming according to the sermon? ([07:11])
4. How does the sermon describe the nature of the new problems that Jesus brings into our lives? ([00:41])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Joseph's decision to divorce Mary quietly reflect a deeper understanding of righteousness and compassion beyond legalism? ([02:06])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's timing, though often delayed, is always perfect? How does this apply to Joseph's experience? ([04:50])
3. The sermon mentions that our real problems are internal rather than external. How does this perspective change the way one might approach personal struggles? ([08:08])
4. What does the concept of "God with us" (Immanuel) mean in the context of salvation, and how does it differ from the common understanding of being saved from difficulties? ([09:23])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How might viewing it as an opportunity to find Jesus change your approach to similar situations in the future? ([00:41])
2. Joseph chose to protect Mary despite the potential for public shame. Can you think of a situation where you might need to prioritize compassion over societal expectations? How would you handle it? ([02:06])
3. Consider a time when you felt God's timing was delayed. How did that experience ultimately shape your faith or understanding of God's plan? ([04:50])
4. Identify an internal struggle you are currently facing. What steps can you take to address this issue with the understanding that Jesus saves us from our sins? ([08:08])
5. How can you actively seek to find God's presence in your current problems, rather than looking for a way out? What practical steps can you take this week to focus on God's presence? ([09:40])
6. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is about having life with God. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God in your daily life, especially during challenging times? ([09:23])
7. Reflect on the unwavering love of God mentioned in the sermon. How can this understanding of God's love influence your interactions with others this week? ([09:59])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing New Challenges with Faith
When Jesus enters our lives, He brings newness, including new challenges. These challenges are not meant to overwhelm us but to provide opportunities for spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Him. As we face these new problems, we are invited to find Jesus within them, allowing our faith to be strengthened. Embracing these challenges with faith can lead to profound spiritual growth and transformation. [00:41]
Isaiah 43:19 (ESV): "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: What new challenge are you currently facing that you can embrace as an opportunity to grow closer to Jesus? How can you invite Him into this situation today?
Day 2: Righteousness Beyond Legalism
Joseph's story in the Gospel of Matthew teaches us about righteousness and compassion. Despite the potential for public shame, Joseph chooses to protect Mary, reflecting a deeper understanding of righteousness that goes beyond mere legalism. His decision to divorce her quietly shows his compassion and integrity, highlighting the importance of aligning our actions with God's love and mercy. [02:06]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate righteousness and compassion in your relationships today, even when it might be easier to follow the letter of the law?
Day 3: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
God's timing often seems delayed, but it is always perfect. Through our struggles and decisions, we gain insights and understanding that we might not have if God intervened earlier. Joseph's experience reminds us that God's timing is not ours, but He is always up to something. Trusting in His timing allows us to grow in patience and faith, knowing that He is working for our good. [04:50]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are struggling to trust God's timing? How can you surrender this to Him and find peace in His perfect plan?
Day 4: Confronting Inner Struggles
Our real problems are not external but internal. Jesus saves us from our sins, which are the true barriers to a life with God. Recognizing and addressing these inner issues, such as ego, self-promotion, lust, greed, and resentment, is crucial for spiritual growth. By confronting these struggles, we open ourselves to the transformative power of Jesus' love and salvation. [08:08]
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV): "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"
Reflection: What inner struggle is currently hindering your relationship with God? How can you invite Jesus to help you overcome this barrier today?
Day 5: Finding God in Our Problems
Salvation is about God being with us, not just rescuing us from difficulties. In our problems, especially in challenging times like 2020, we can find God's presence and love, which is the essence of salvation. By seeking God within our struggles, we experience His unwavering love and the true meaning of Immanuel, "God with us." [09:23]
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV): "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."
Reflection: How can you shift your perspective to see God's presence in your current problems? What steps can you take to experience His love and guidance in the midst of your struggles today?
Quotes
When Jesus becomes part of your life, the old problems will still be there, contrary to popular wisdom in our day, but you'll also get a new set of problems and you will find Jesus in them. Excited for this, we hear about this in the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew. [00:41]
Joseph was a righteous man and it also tells us that he did not want Mary to be put publicly to shame. It's a little ambiguous how to translate this. It may be that the best translation is although Joseph was a righteous man, he did not want Mary to be put to shame. [01:57]
Righteousness, honoring the law, which Joseph would have done in that day, had real clear implications. If a woman, a betrothed woman, was unfaithful according to Old Testament law, she and the other person were both to be put to death. Now by Joseph's time, Rome did not allow Israel to do execution. [02:20]
Joseph very possibly would have paid a bride price and if he went public with her unfaithfulness, he would have gotten all of that stuff back. He decides instead of doing that, that he will divorce her quietly, give her a certificate of divorce so that she would be able to marry again at some point. [03:26]
After he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. After he had considered this, after he had considered, are you kidding me? After he's gone through this torture. [04:08]
Why in the world didn't the angel come to Joseph before he considered all this? God would have made it so much easier for Joseph if he would have just come to him from the very beginning and said Mary's going to have Jesus, going to be the son of God. [04:29]
It's through the process of having to struggle that Joseph is able to come to a new understanding of what does it mean to be righteous and to show to Mary his heroic willingness to pay the price himself so that she could be protected from shame. [05:52]
Now what does Joseph get out of this? Well, he gets Jesus. He finds Jesus in his troubles. His reputation is trashed. People around him obviously if he says to them, yes I'm marrying Mary but I didn't get her pregnant ahead of time, this is a Holy Spirit deal. [06:11]
He will save his people from their sins. See, our real problem is not what we think is our real problem. It's not the circumstances around me. My real problem is me, my ego, my attachment to my own self-promotion, my lust, my greed, my resentment. [08:01]
To be saved by Jesus is different than what a lot of people think. It doesn't mean to be saved from pain or punishment or bad things. It is to be saved from my sins so that I can have life together with God. Salvation is God with us, including in our problems. [09:11]
Today, just for today, don't look for a way out of your problems. Look to find God in your problems. Our God is a good God who loves us with a love that never gives up. [09:41]
In the way that we rejoice in being with anybody that we love, our God wants to be with us and that is Jesus who saves. [10:17]
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