From "The Parents of Jesus" (Heavenward Bound, May 2026)
Joseph and Mary were visited by angels which communicated God’s will to them. In both cases (Matt. 1.18-25; Luke 1.38) they did as they were commanded by God. Joseph did not put Mary away, and Mary humbly affirmed God’s purpose for her: “I am the servant of the Lord” (vv.38). In Matt. 2, we see Jesus’ parents heeding God’s command to dwell in Egypt, until commanded to return and dwell in Nazareth (vv.13, 30). It took faith to leave. It took faith to return. It took faith to live in Nazareth.
Be like Joseph: Choose Honor, Courage, & Commitment
Those words are often cited by the Marines, but they’re not just for Marines. Imitate Joseph’s honor and just character. Imitate His courage. Fathers: Choose the Christian life. Be wiling to stand up to family and do what’s right for your kids. Commit to your spouse and your children.
Be like Mary: Humbly serve God and carry out His word
No matter what God’s word calls us to do, no matter the sacrifices we must make for Jesus’ sake, let it be said of us that we were and did what Mary declared she would be and do: “Let it be to me according to His word”.
The best protection we can provide our children is to quickly heed God’s will for us.
We see videos of parents shouting (and rightly so) “We have to protect our children.” Amen, we must protect them! We must protect our kids from predators and groomers and all sorts of threatening people, but friends and brethren, if we refuse to become and live as faithful Christians, who will defend our kids from our ungodly influence???
Neither the Glock in the safe, nor the doorbell camera, nor the German Shepherd, can defend a child from the influence of a godless, or even a spiritually lukewarm parent.
Fathers: Do you truly want to “stand in the gap” and defend your kids from evil? Give your kids a godly father! Mothers: Do you want to nurture and cultivate a warm, safe, loving home? Provide a faithful mother!
What would Mary say to you today regarding Jesus? It was all a hoax? It really wasn’t that important? Can you imagine describing to Mary that your service to Jesus isn’t all that big of a deal? But remember this: Mary’s opinion of your life has never been the standard, nor is she the judge.
What will you say to Jesus’ REAL Father? The Creator, The Sustainer, the Judge? Our lives stand either as a testament to our faithfulness to Christ, or our indifference towards Him. Choose faith in Christ, and teach your kids to do the same. You’ll both be better for it in the end.
Kyle Sanders
Kyle has been preaching since 2016 in Chiefland, Florida and Clinton, Mississippi before coming to work with the Jamestown church of Christ in 2021. Before preaching, he spent several years as a high school mathematics teacher in Indiana, Kentucky, and Florida. Kyle is a teacher at heart and brings his love of studying and interacting with students into his preaching and teaching efforts. He and his wife, a native Hoosier, have been blessed with five children, two dogs, a full house and zero leftovers.