"More Than Just"

Matthew 1:18-21 reads as follows:

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (emphasis added).

The simple principle of truth encapsulated within this passage of scripture has to do with the difference between what Joseph thought and what the Lord had in mind. Joseph acted according to what he thought was the "higher road", and instead of divorcing Mary publicly, or even having her stoned to death (both actions of which were in his legal power), he decided to simply put her away "privily." This, he surely told himself, was the best and noblest thing he could do for her. It was the just thing. What Joseph may not have realized at this point in his young life, however, is that God doesn't always ask of us what we expect. God often expects us to be more than just in our actions one towards another. Acting with charity, the "pure love of Christ," requires of us that we do more than we may have bargained for.