Thoughts From the Bible

Read Matthew 2: 19- 23- Joseph was acquainted with fear.  I know there are those who preach we as Christians should not have a spirit of fear and that Satan is the author of fear.  I am certainly not going to debate that idea, but I read in this passage Joseph was afraid to return to Egypt. In verses 22 and 23 we read, “ But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a c ity called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.” Joseph was leading quite a life. First, he wanted to marry a woman who told him she was pregnant but had never had sex with a man. Then an angel appeared to Joseph telling him Mary was tell ing him the truth, and he would be the father of the Messiah. There was the dream telling Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt because of Herod...

Read Matthew 1: 18- 25- There are so many times when I read a story in the Bible, and I wonder how I would have responded if I were in those situations.  This passage is one of those stories.  Something totally unimaginable has happened to the woman I am supposed to marry.  This wi ll cause her to be considered a very sinful person when in reality, just the opposite is true, but people will not know that. Would I have still married Mary if I were Joseph?   In verses 23 through 25 we read, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which means God with us.  When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, he took his wife but knew her no t until she had given birth to a son.  And he called His name Jesus.” I know it helps a lot when an angel shows up and tells you what is going on.  I want to think I would have responded like Joseph and began to prepare myself to be the hu...