5/11/2025

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 1:20-21 (NLT).

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

When I read Matthew 1:19 I cringe a little -“Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.” Joseph could have ended things then with no repercussions for himself. However, as a righteous man Joseph listens to the message he receives from God.

This fulfills the prophecy given in Isaiah 7:14 – “All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” God always had a plan for our salvation, and it was always Jesus. 

Two things here are very important parts of this – the promise that “God is with us” and “He will save His people from their sins.” We can’t save ourselves, only through Jesus can we be forgiven. When we repent and return we can be made whole and part of His work in the world.

Heavenly Father, in Your mercy You made a way for us to be saved from our sin. Bless us to be the messengers of the Gospel. Amen.

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